Banon alleged sexual assault case against Strauss-Kahn dropped

French prosecutors have dropped the sexual assault case brought against former IMF chief Dominque Strauss-Kahn by French writer Tristane Banon. They said they had prima facie evidence that a sexual assault took place, but the case was too old to prosecute. 

Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes

Tristane Banon, a 32-year-old author, claimed the politician tried to rape her in 2003, but prosecutors said the evidence suggested only sexual assault, which has a shorter statute of limitations, rather than attempted rape.

She first made her allegations public on television in 2007, but only brought them to magistrates after Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York in May over the attempted rape of a New York hotel maid, Nafissatou Diallo.

The charges related to that case were dropped after US prosecutors deemed the alleged victim unreliable.

The Socialist politician has always denied Banon's allegation claiming it was imaginary and is suing her for defamation.

Banon has said that she will bring a civil suit if there is no criminal prosecution.