(JTA) — Prosecutors reportedly believe the sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former director of the International Monetary Fund, has been severely compromised.
The prosecutors plan to tell a judge on Friday that the case has "problems," the New York Times quoted law enforcement officials as saying.
It’s not clear what could ensue; the hearing had been scheduled to hear an appeal from Strauss-Kahn to ease his bail conditions.
The accuser, a housekeeper at New York’s Sofitel hotel, on May 14 accused Strauss-Kahn of having violently assaulted her when she entered his room. Since then, the Times quoted officials as saying, she has repeatedly lied about her alleged links to drug-dealers and money launderers.
The 32-year-old woman, who is from Guinea, also misled police about her immigrant status, the report said, and spoke with a jailed accused drug lord after the alleged assault about the benefits of pursuing charges against Strauss-Kahn.
A lawyer for the woman told the Times that the allegations do not undercut her accusations of sexual assault.
Lawyers for Strauss-Kahn, 62, do not deny there was sexual encounter.
Strauss-Kahn, who was forced to leave the IMF, had been considered a front-runner for the French presidency, the first Jew to hold such a position since World War II.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.