Dominique Strauss-Kahn pleads not guilty to rape charges

Former head of IMF will face trial and remains under house arrest in New York accused of raping hotel maid Dominique Strauss Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund, has pleaded not guilty to charges he raped a hotel maid. The one-time French presidential hopeful will face trial over the allegations that cost him his job and sent the IMF into crisis. He will be back in court on 18 July. At a brief hearing at Manhattan criminal court he pleaded not guilty in a strong voice, standing between his defence team and watched by his wife, the millionaire former journalist Anne Sinclair. Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers said they needed six weeks to assess evidence that has been collected by the US authorities. DNA matching Strauss-Kahn’s has reportedly been found in semen on the maid’s clothing and on a section of carpet from his hotel room. Experts say the defence will probably argue that any sexual contact between the maid and Strauss-Kahn was consensual. Strauss-Kahn was released on $6m bail three weeks ago. He has been staying in a $50,000 a month townhouse in Tribeca, Manhattan. The former IMF boss is wearing a electronic tag that monitors his movements and must pay $200,000 a month for a private security team that is authorised to use force should he attempt to flee. He is under curfew between 10pm and 6am and allowed out only for court, doctors’ visits and religious services. Prosecutors must be notified at least six hours before he goes anywhere. Under his terms of house arrest he can receive up to four visitors at a time besides family. Last month a moving company picked up 44 boxes of furniture, clothes, art and a rug from Strauss Kahn’s $4m Washington DC home and delivered them to the Tribeca townhouse. At the time of his 14 May arrest the 62-year-old economist had been considered a leading contender to run against the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Dominique Strauss-Kahn United States France Dominic Rushe guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 6, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.