Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigns; arrives for sex case bail hearing

NEW YORK — Facing charges that he tried to rape a hotel maid, former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn arrived at a New York court building Thursday for a bail hearing.


Strauss-Kahn's lawyers are asking that he be released on $1 million cash bail and placed under 24-hour home detention with electronic monitoring, court papers showed. A bail hearing is due to be held later Thursday.

IMF Press Release:

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn Resigns

Press Release No. 11/187
May 18, 2011

Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn today informed the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of his intention to resign as Managing Director with immediate effect. Mr. Strauss-Kahn made the following statement in a formal letter of resignation to the Board:

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board:

It is with infinite sadness that I feel compelled today to present to the Executive Board my resignation from my post of Managing Director of the IMF.

I think at this time first of my wife—whom I love more than anything—of my children, of my family, of my friends.

I think also of my colleagues at the Fund; together we have accomplished such great things over the last three years and more.

To all, I want to say that I deny with the greatest possible firmness all of the allegations that have been made against me.

I want to protect this institution which I have served with honor and devotion, and especially—especially—I want to devote all my strength, all my time, and all my energy to proving my innocence.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn

The Fund will communicate in the near future on the Executive Board’s process of selecting a new Managing Director. Meanwhile, Mr. John Lipsky remains Acting Managing Director.

BAIL CONDITIONS

• $1 million cash bail
• $5 million bond
• Home confinement to an undisclosed Manhattan address that has been rented by Strauss-Khan's wife
• 24-hour monitoring by guard Strauss-Khan is paying $200,000 a month.
• Electronic tag fitted on his ankle.
• Video cameras will also be installed in the house.
• Alarms will be fitted on the doors to stop him leaving.

The identity of the woman who claimed to have experienced sexual violence and attempted rape by IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK) is now revealed. Several French newspapers have released the identity of the servant Sofitel Hotelin Manhattan, New York, United States.

According to French media, Paris Match, the 32-year-old woman's name is Nafissatou Diallo.  The immigrant from Guinea, West Africa  has a 15-year-old daughter. According to Paris Match, the unmarried woman gave birth to her son at the age of 17.

France's media reacts to the arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn.