The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Khan, was arrested Saturday at the John F. New York airport Kennedy after being accused of sexual assault by a waitress at the Sofitel Hotel in Manhattan where he stayed the last few days. According to Paul Browne, a Police Department spokesman in New York, plainclothes officers boarded the Air France plane at 16.45 pm on Saturday when Strauss-Khan was in the first class cabin of an Air France plane , to take off for Paris.
From there, the politician was taken to the Special Victims Unit, Manhattan, for questioning. During the night he received the visit of a French diplomat, in the framework of consular protection granted to its nationals France. The Prosecutor formally charged three sexual offenses: rape is attempted, sex offense and false imprisonment.
According to the New York state law, including criminal sexual acts of force to compel someone to engage in oral sex. The offense has a potential sentence of 15 to 20 years, the same as attempted rape. Illegal detention has a potential sentence and three to five years. The defendant's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, has advanced his client "will plead not guilty." Browne said an employee of the hotel that housed the French politician who has emerged as a favorite in the presidential elections of 2012, knocked on her door about noon.
Having let her in, Strauss-Khan, left the room the bathroom naked and ran with it, threw it violently on the bed and began sexually assaulting her, according to statements by women. However, the girl, 32 years old, was able to escape from the room and run towards the hotel concierge. A member of the establishment called the police but when officers arrived, Strauss-Kahn had already left for the airport in New York, leaving his mobile phone and some personal belongings in the room.
"The alleged victim was taken to Roosevelt Hospital [of Manhattan] where she was treated for minor injuries," said Browne. Interestingly, the arrest of Strauss-Khan, 62 years old, came a day after people close to the politician had assured the press that he was the victim of a smear campaign by the environment of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, concerned about the poll numbers of likely Socialist candidate in next year's elections.
Specifically, the campaign would focus on presenting the French political elite as describing their lifestyle as overly luxurious. For example, it has been reported that Strauss-Khan suits are made by the same tailor who dresses Obama. This is not the first time that Strauss-Khan, married to French television journalist Anne Sinclair, is involved in a scandal of skirts.
With great reputation as a womanizer, the director of the IMF agreed publicly in 2008 have made a "misjudgment" for having an affair with one of his subordinates in the Fund, an institution that runs from July 2007. Strauss-Khan launched his political career in 1986 when he was elected to the National Assembly.
Since then he has held the portfolios of Industry and Economy in Socialist governments under the presidencies of François Mitterrand and Lionel Jospin. After acquiring a reputation as a good manager for their presence in government, was presented to the Socialist primary for the 2007 presidential election.
Often accused of lacking charisma, he was clearly defeated by Ségolène Royal. The outbreak of the global economic crisis of 2008 gave a golden opportunity to Strauss-Khan to strengthen the IMF's role as coordinator and guarantor of stability in the global economy. Compliments to the Fund's performance and leadership, earned him whole French public opinion, and many analysts see as the favorite.
Or at least that was until his arrest. The IMF confirmed in a statement on its website the arrest, which states that no additional details because everything is in the hands of the lawyers for Strauss-Kahn and local authorities. The text stresses that the agency remains "fully operational and functions." The IMF managing director was to meet Sunday with German Chancellor Merkel Ahgela, but was arrested at the airport when he went to catch the plane. 
From there, the politician was taken to the Special Victims Unit, Manhattan, for questioning. During the night he received the visit of a French diplomat, in the framework of consular protection granted to its nationals France. The Prosecutor formally charged three sexual offenses: rape is attempted, sex offense and false imprisonment.
According to the New York state law, including criminal sexual acts of force to compel someone to engage in oral sex. The offense has a potential sentence of 15 to 20 years, the same as attempted rape. Illegal detention has a potential sentence and three to five years. The defendant's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, has advanced his client "will plead not guilty." Browne said an employee of the hotel that housed the French politician who has emerged as a favorite in the presidential elections of 2012, knocked on her door about noon.
Having let her in, Strauss-Khan, left the room the bathroom naked and ran with it, threw it violently on the bed and began sexually assaulting her, according to statements by women. However, the girl, 32 years old, was able to escape from the room and run towards the hotel concierge. A member of the establishment called the police but when officers arrived, Strauss-Kahn had already left for the airport in New York, leaving his mobile phone and some personal belongings in the room.
"The alleged victim was taken to Roosevelt Hospital [of Manhattan] where she was treated for minor injuries," said Browne. Interestingly, the arrest of Strauss-Khan, 62 years old, came a day after people close to the politician had assured the press that he was the victim of a smear campaign by the environment of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, concerned about the poll numbers of likely Socialist candidate in next year's elections.
Specifically, the campaign would focus on presenting the French political elite as describing their lifestyle as overly luxurious. For example, it has been reported that Strauss-Khan suits are made by the same tailor who dresses Obama. This is not the first time that Strauss-Khan, married to French television journalist Anne Sinclair, is involved in a scandal of skirts.
With great reputation as a womanizer, the director of the IMF agreed publicly in 2008 have made a "misjudgment" for having an affair with one of his subordinates in the Fund, an institution that runs from July 2007. Strauss-Khan launched his political career in 1986 when he was elected to the National Assembly.
Since then he has held the portfolios of Industry and Economy in Socialist governments under the presidencies of François Mitterrand and Lionel Jospin. After acquiring a reputation as a good manager for their presence in government, was presented to the Socialist primary for the 2007 presidential election.
Often accused of lacking charisma, he was clearly defeated by Ségolène Royal. The outbreak of the global economic crisis of 2008 gave a golden opportunity to Strauss-Khan to strengthen the IMF's role as coordinator and guarantor of stability in the global economy. Compliments to the Fund's performance and leadership, earned him whole French public opinion, and many analysts see as the favorite.
Or at least that was until his arrest. The IMF confirmed in a statement on its website the arrest, which states that no additional details because everything is in the hands of the lawyers for Strauss-Kahn and local authorities. The text stresses that the agency remains "fully operational and functions." The IMF managing director was to meet Sunday with German Chancellor Merkel Ahgela, but was arrested at the airport when he went to catch the plane.
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