tagged w/ imf dominique strauss-kahn rape
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http://i.huffpost.com/gen/300403/thumbs/r-DOMINIQUE-STRAUSSKAHN-large570.jpg
NEW YORK - The case against former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was charged with sexually assaulting a hotel housekeeper, is near collapse, the New York Times has reported.
The paper quoted what it said were two well-placed law enforcement officials as saying that although forensic evidence showed there had been a sexual encounter between the French politician and the maid, the accuser had repeatedly lied and prosecutors did not believe much about what she had told them.
It said prosecutors had met with Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyers on Thursday and the parties were discussing whether to dismiss the felony charges.
Mr Strauss-Kahn's defense attorney, Benjamin Brafman, said earlier on Thursday that their client would go back to court in New York on Friday at 11:30 a.m. (2330 AEST) before Judge Michael Obus to seek changes to his bail conditions.
"Indeed, Mr. Strauss-Kahn could be released on his own recognisance, and freed from house arrest, reflecting the likelihood that the serious criminal charges against him will not be sustained," the paper said. "The district attorney's office may try to require Mr Strauss-Kahn to plead guilty to a misdemeanor, but his lawyers are likely to contest such a move."
Mr Strauss-Kahn, 62, had been a leading candidate for the French presidency when he was arrested on May 14. He resigned from the IMF on May 19 and pleaded not guilty on June 6, vehemently denying the allegations.
The paper said that prosecutors had discovered that the woman, a 32-year-old Guinean, had had a phone conversation with an incarcerated man within a day of her encounter with Strauss-Kahn in which she discussed the possible benefits of pursuing the charges against him. The conversation was recorded.
It added that the man, who had been arrested on charges of possessing 400 pounds (181.5 kg) of marijuana, was among a number of individuals who had made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman's bank account over the last two years.
Mr Strauss-Khan was released on $US1 million cash bail and a $US5 million bond, and is under house arrest in a townhouse in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan, where he is equipped with an electronic monitoring device and under the 24-hour watch of armed guards.
He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.http://i.huffpost.com/gen/300403/thumbs/r-DOMINIQUE-STRAUSSKAHN-large570.jpg
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NEW YORK (Hollywood Today) 5/16/11 – World Money boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn could not even get bail as he was determined a “flight risk” by a New York judge – not surprising as he was pulled off a flight to France which he sped to without even taking his cell phone from the $3,000 hotel suite where he allegedly sexually assaulted a maid.
In what increasingly looks like a “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” two-part episode, the real SVU has had a rape kit done on the woman and DNA evidence was found. Blood on the sheets found at his suite at the Sofitel Hotel support her claims of sexual assault.
Crime scene investigators found additional evidence at the scene, removing fibers and DNA and swaths of carpet and fabric from the suite for further forensic testing, sources said.
Strauss-Kahn appeared Monday in a New York City courtroom, where prosecutors said the IMF chief may have engaged in similar behavior in the past and should be considered a flight risk. Defense attorney Benjamin Brafman, who handles celebrities like P. Diddy, said Strauss-Kahn denies all charges against him.
A Manhattan judge ruled that Strauss-Kahn must remain jailed at least until his next court hearing — slated for May 20 — for attempted rape and other charges.
http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/2011/05/16/no-bail-for-imf-head-french-presidential-favorite-and-rape-defendant-strauss-kahn/NEW YORK (Hollywood Today) 5/16/11 – World Money boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn... more
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