The former head of the International Monetary Fund has been charged over alleged involvement in a prostitution ring.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn was charged after being questioned by magistrates in the northern French city of Lille.
Mr Strauss-Kahn's name came up as police were investigating an operation about sex workers from brothels over the Belgian border being brought to high-class French hotels.
The 62-year-old has admitted attending parties where the authorities believe prostitutes were provided by a gang, but he denies knowing the women were paid prostitutes, the BBC reports.
In May last year, he resigned from the IMF after being accused of attempting to rape a hotel maid in New York. The charges were later dropped.
The maid is now bringing a civil case against Mr Strauss-Kahn, which is due to start in New York on Wednesday.
He has always denied any wrongdoing.
