IMF chief refused bail on sex charge

A New York judge has refused bail for Dominique Strauss-Kahn, 62, the leader of the International Monetary Fund, on charges he sexually assaulted a maid in a $US3000-a-night hotel suite.

Judge Melissa Jackson agreed with prosecutors that he was a flight risk. Strauss-Kahn, a prominent French socialist politician, has been in custody since Saturday, when he was arrested as he was boarding an Air France flight at John F Kennedy Airport.

At the 26-minute hearing, assistant district attorney John McConnell highlighted the serious nature of the allegations, which involve an African immigrant housekeeper, who entered Strauss-Kahn’s room thinking it was vacant.

“The defendant restrained a hotel employee inside of his room,” Mr McConnell said. “He sexually assaulted her and attempted to forcibly rape her,” and when that failed, he forced her to perform oral sex.

Mr. McConnell said video footage showed Strauss-Kahn later exit from the Sofitel New York. “He appears to be a man who was in a hurry,” he said.

Benjamin Brafman, one of Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers, argued his client should be allowed to post $US1 million bail. Mr Brafman said his client’s actions since leaving the hotel were not “consistent with someone who’s trying to conceal his whereabouts, and get on a flight and leave.”

But prosecutors said Strauss-Kahn’s resources, the lack of an extradition treaty between the US and France and the defendant’s history were all reasons that he should not be granted bail.

Mr McConnell also said the district attorney’s office was still investigating another complaint against Strauss-Kahn that had occurred outside the US.

Earlier warning
As managing director, Strauss-Kahn steered the 187-member-nation IMF through the 2007-09 global financial crisis and was central in handling the escalating euro-zone debt crisis. He was also considered a front-runner in next year's French presidential election.

The fund's No. 2 official, John Lipsky, is acting as managing director during Strauss-Kahn's absence.

It is not the first time Strauss-Kahn's character has come under scrutiny. In 2008, the IMF board cleared him of abuse of power over a brief affair he had with a female IMF economist, but warned him against any further misconduct.

Strauss-Kahn on that occasion apologised publicly for an "error in judgment."