Dominique Strauss-Kahn couldn't attend frequent sex parties as he was 'saving the world'

The former IMF chief is standing trial for aggravated pimping

Strauss-Kahn has been accused of 'a material act of pimping' (Getty Images)

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has told a court that he had "other things to do" than attend sex parties.

The former IMF chief, who is standing trial for aggravated pimping, told the court that his attendance at sex parties was not "out of control".

The trial pertains to activities that were alleged to have taken place at the Carlton Hotel in Lille, France - as well as Washington, Brussels and Paris.

Strauss-Kahn is alleged to have supplied prostitutes for sex parties, which he denies.

He told a court today that his contact with Fabrice Paszkowski, a businessman also being tried on pimping charges, was limited because of his high-powered job.

“I had other things to do,” Strauss-Kahn read from a letter in court, “ saving the world... I had political ambitions.”

Strauss-Kahn maintains that his attendance at sex parties was not "frenetic". “It was four times a year, not more than that," he said. "It wasn’t this out-of-control activity.”

He contends that he did attend sex parties, but was unaware that the women involved were paid prostitutes. He has described the charges as "dangerous and malicious insinuations and extrapolations". Aggravated pimping carries a maximum prison term of 10 years and a €1.5 million fine. He denies the charges.