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Strauss-Kahn arrest: IMF head detained at Rikers Island | Strauss-Kahn arrest: IMF head detained at Rikers Island |
(about 4 hours later) | |
IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been remanded in custody at New York's notorious Rikers Island jail on charges of sexual assault. | IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been remanded in custody at New York's notorious Rikers Island jail on charges of sexual assault. |
The judge said Mr Strauss-Kahn, 62, was a flight risk. He was arrested on Saturday after boarding a plane and accused of trying to rape a hotel maid. | The judge said Mr Strauss-Kahn, 62, was a flight risk. He was arrested on Saturday after boarding a plane and accused of trying to rape a hotel maid. |
He faces seven charges and could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. | He faces seven charges and could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. |
Mr Strauss-Kahn, who had been seen as a favourite in France's 2012 presidential elections, denies the charges. | Mr Strauss-Kahn, who had been seen as a favourite in France's 2012 presidential elections, denies the charges. |
His lawyer expressed disappointment at bail being denied, but said his client would be exonerated. | His lawyer expressed disappointment at bail being denied, but said his client would be exonerated. |
"This battle has just begun," defence lawyer Benjamin Brafman told the court. | "This battle has just begun," defence lawyer Benjamin Brafman told the court. |
Mr Strauss-Kahn had been due to attend an EU finance ministers' meeting in Brussels to discuss financial bail-outs. | Mr Strauss-Kahn had been due to attend an EU finance ministers' meeting in Brussels to discuss financial bail-outs. |
The IMF has played a central role in organising rescue packages for the troubled economies of Portugal and Greece. | The IMF has played a central role in organising rescue packages for the troubled economies of Portugal and Greece. |
The BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says the IMF chief has gained the trust of countries in Europe which are giving financial assistance, and those which are receiving it. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says the IMF chief has gained the trust of countries in Europe which are giving financial assistance, and those which are receiving it. |
The European Union says the scandal should not affect bail-outs for eurozone countries. | The European Union says the scandal should not affect bail-outs for eurozone countries. |
Bail offer denied | Bail offer denied |
Jean-Claude Junker, the Luxembourg prime minister said: "I am very sad and upset. He is a friend of mine... Mr Strauss-Kahn is in the hands of American justice, it's not up to us to comment on this, but it makes me deeply, deeply sad." | Jean-Claude Junker, the Luxembourg prime minister said: "I am very sad and upset. He is a friend of mine... Mr Strauss-Kahn is in the hands of American justice, it's not up to us to comment on this, but it makes me deeply, deeply sad." |
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde described Mr Strauss-Kahn's predicament was "crushing and painful". | French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde described Mr Strauss-Kahn's predicament was "crushing and painful". |
Dominique Strauss-Khan is no ordinary inmate at Rikers Island. The jail, situated on the edge of New York City is home to gang-members and criminals, convicted of some of the most serious crimes. | |
It's been the scene of movies and TV crime dramas. | |
The head of the IMF will be held on his own, and guards will watch over him 24 hours a day, for his own security. | |
Low-risk offenders in the jail normally share cells with dozens of other inmates. We understand the routine and conditions of Mr Strauss-Kahn to be just like anyone else. | |
He'll apparently be woken at 0600 every day, with one hour of recreational time. | |
And the food will be a far cry from any Manhatten hotel menu. | |
The IMF said in a statement that it had been briefed on the charges against its managing director, and that it would "continue to monitor developments". | The IMF said in a statement that it had been briefed on the charges against its managing director, and that it would "continue to monitor developments". |
Prosecutors told the court it was not the first time Mr Strauss-Kahn had been involved in such an incident and argued he had been arrested attempting to flee the country. | Prosecutors told the court it was not the first time Mr Strauss-Kahn had been involved in such an incident and argued he had been arrested attempting to flee the country. |
Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer Benjamin Brafman contested this, saying the defendant had not tried to flee the scene and was actually rushing for a lunch appointment. | Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer Benjamin Brafman contested this, saying the defendant had not tried to flee the scene and was actually rushing for a lunch appointment. |
He added that Mr Strauss-Kahn later called the hotel to say he was at the airport and had left a mobile phone in his room. | He added that Mr Strauss-Kahn later called the hotel to say he was at the airport and had left a mobile phone in his room. |
However Judge Melissa Jackson denied the defence's offer to post $1m (£617,000) bail and agree to Mr Strauss-Kahn staying with his daughter in New York until the next hearing on Friday. | However Judge Melissa Jackson denied the defence's offer to post $1m (£617,000) bail and agree to Mr Strauss-Kahn staying with his daughter in New York until the next hearing on Friday. |
"When I hear your client was at JFK airport about to board a flight, that raises some concerns," Ms Jackson said. | "When I hear your client was at JFK airport about to board a flight, that raises some concerns," Ms Jackson said. |
The charges relate to an alleged assault at the Times Square Sofitel hotel in New York. | The charges relate to an alleged assault at the Times Square Sofitel hotel in New York. |
According to the New York Police Department, a 32-year-old maid told officers that when she entered his suite on Saturday afternoon, Mr Strauss-Kahn emerged from the bathroom naked, chased her and sexually assaulted her. | According to the New York Police Department, a 32-year-old maid told officers that when she entered his suite on Saturday afternoon, Mr Strauss-Kahn emerged from the bathroom naked, chased her and sexually assaulted her. |
The woman was able to break free and alert the authorities, a NYPD spokesman added. | The woman was able to break free and alert the authorities, a NYPD spokesman added. |
Later on Saturday Mr Strauss-Kahn was detained on board an Air France flight at New York's John F Kennedy airport minutes before take-off. | Later on Saturday Mr Strauss-Kahn was detained on board an Air France flight at New York's John F Kennedy airport minutes before take-off. |
The IMF chief underwent medical examinations on Sunday. Police were looking for scratches or any other evidence of his alleged assault. | The IMF chief underwent medical examinations on Sunday. Police were looking for scratches or any other evidence of his alleged assault. |
He was later charged with a "criminal sexual act, unlawful imprisonment and attempted rape". Police say the maid formally identified him in a line-up. | He was later charged with a "criminal sexual act, unlawful imprisonment and attempted rape". Police say the maid formally identified him in a line-up. |
'Thunderbolt' | 'Thunderbolt' |
Until he was arrested, Mr Strauss-Kahn was considered a favourite to become the Socialist candidate for the French presidency next year. | Until he was arrested, Mr Strauss-Kahn was considered a favourite to become the Socialist candidate for the French presidency next year. |
Opinion polls gave him a good chance of defeating President Nicolas Sarkozy. | Opinion polls gave him a good chance of defeating President Nicolas Sarkozy. |
Socialist party president Martine Aubry described his arrest as a "thunderbolt" but called for Mr Strauss-Kahn to be presumed innocent. | Socialist party president Martine Aubry described his arrest as a "thunderbolt" but called for Mr Strauss-Kahn to be presumed innocent. |
Mr Strauss-Kahn's wife, French TV personality Anne Sinclair, has also protested his innocence. | Mr Strauss-Kahn's wife, French TV personality Anne Sinclair, has also protested his innocence. |
Meanwhile, another allegation against Mr Strauss-Kahn has emerged. A French writer says she may file a complaint for an alleged sexual assault in 2002. | Meanwhile, another allegation against Mr Strauss-Kahn has emerged. A French writer says she may file a complaint for an alleged sexual assault in 2002. |
Tristane Banon, 31, says Mr Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her when she went to interview him for a book she was writing. | Tristane Banon, 31, says Mr Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her when she went to interview him for a book she was writing. |
"We're planning to make a complaint," Ms Banon's lawyer told AFP news agency. Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyers have so far not responded to the allegation. | "We're planning to make a complaint," Ms Banon's lawyer told AFP news agency. Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyers have so far not responded to the allegation. |