International Monetary Fund managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested after being accused of a sexual attack on a hotel maid in New York. Picture: AFP Source: AFP
- Charges brought against "Great Seducer"
- Police say he left mobile phone in room
- Wife has "no doubt" he's innocent
A TOP French politician who heads the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been charged over an alleged sex attack on a hotel maid in New York.
IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arraignment on sex assault charges has been delayed, his lawyer says.
Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer, William Taylor, said his client's arraignment had been delayed until�tomorrow (AEST)�to allow more time for police to conduct forensic tests in his sexual assault case involving a hotel maid in New York City.
Mr Taylor said�Mr�Strauss-Kahn had agreed to an examination requested by prosecutors to obtain evidence in the case.
Police arrested Mr Strauss-Kahn early today local time on charges including attempted rape.
A 32-year-old maid at the Sofitel hotel has alleged the 62-year-old Strauss-Kahn sexually assaulted her when she came into his hotel suite.
Another lawyer for Strauss-Kahn, Benjamin Brafman, said his client would vigorously defend himself against the charges.
Lawyers said earlier that the IMF head, who's also a leading contender for the French presidency, will plead not guilty to the charges.
Police said the maid picked Mr Strauss-Kahn out of a lineup. Unless the charges are quickly dropped, they could destroy his chances in a presidential race that is just starting to heat up.
The IMF, which plays a key role in efforts to control the European debt crisis, named an acting leader and said it remains "fully functioning and operational" despite Saturday's arrest.
Mr Strauss-Kahn's�New York-born wife, leading French TV journalist Anne Sinclair, said that she "doesn't believe for a second" that he was guilty of the allegations.
Police claim�Mr Strauss-Kahn�sexually assaulted a maid�at the $3000-a-night�Sofitel Hotel, near Times Square, on Saturday�afternoon.
Mr Strauss-Kahn was hauled off an Air France flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday just minutes before it was due to depart for Paris.
Three Port Authority detectives removed Mr Strauss-Kahn from the plane's first-class cabin, then turned him over to NYPD officers, who took him to the special victims unit.
When approached on the plane by the Port Authority cops, he asked, "What is this about?" sources told the newspaper. He was then taken off without handcuffs.
A police spokesman said that Mr Strauss-Kahn appeared to have fled the hotel after the alleged attack, leaving his mobile�phone behind. "It looked like he got out of there in a hurry," he said.
Mr Strauss-Kahn, who is nicknamed "the Great Seducer", has a special arrangement with Air France that allows him to get on any flight and sit in first class. He was traveling alone.
Police claim�the 32-year-old maid managed to break free after the alleged assault and told a co-worker what happened. She was later taken to Roosevelt Hospital.
The IMF declined to comment on the case, but spokeswoman Caroline Atkinson said that "the IMF remains fully functioning and operational."
The incident should not dramatically affect financial markets despite Strauss-Kahn's key position as head of the IMF, according to David Buik, of BGC Partners.
The markets "will be much more concerned about seeing some unanimity of purpose from the EU political leaders over contingency plans for providing extra help for Greece and maybe Ireland and Portugal," he told MarketWatch.
French government spokesman Francois Baroin said Mr Strauss-Kahn was innocent until proven guilty and urged caution on making comments about the case.
"The French government respects two simple principles: that the judicial proceedings are underway under the authority of American justice, according to American law, and the respect for the presumption of innocence," he said on France 2 television.
The accused politician was "going to be heard by a judge and will have the chance to express himself" and "to give his version" of events, Baroin added.
Mr Strauss-Kahn, a leader of France's Socialist Party, was regarded as the leading contender to run against President Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2012 election.
In France's 2007 vote, Mr Strauss-Kahn lost the Socialist nomination to Segolene Royal, who in turn was defeated by Mr Sarkozy, the leader of the right-wing Union for a Popular Movement.
Mr Royal told Europe 1 radio Strauss-Kahn's arrest was "staggering" but noted that he was innocent until proven guilty. "It is staggering news, about which everything remains to be verified. Let us wait for justice to do its work and not turn this into a political soap opera," she said.
French Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry said she was "astounded" at Mr Strauss-Kahn's arrest. "The news coming ... from New York sounds like a thunderbolt. I myself, like everyone, am totally astounded. I ask the Socialists to remain united and responsible," she said.
Mr Strauss-Kahn was France's minister of economy and finance from 1997 to 1999, when he resigned to battle charges that he was paid for consulting work he never did - but judges decided he really did do the work, and prosecutors were forced to admit they lacked evidence of any fraudulent motive.
His reputation was damaged when he admitted in 2008 to "an error of judgment" over an affair with an IMF subordinate.
IMF officials have diplomatic immunity "with respect to acts performed by them in their official capacity, except when the fund waives this immunity," according to organisation bylaws cited by the Financial Times.
A spokeswoman for the US State Department had no immediate comment.
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