[ 2011-06-06 ]

Dominique Strauss-Kahn leaves court with his wife Anne Sinclair, who is standing by him

Ex-IMF chief Strauss-Kahn pleads not guilty
The former head of the International Monetary
Fund, Dominique Strauss-Khan, has entered a plea
of not guilty in a New York court to charges of
attempted rape and sexual assault.

He is accused of assaulting a maid at the
Manhattan hotel where he was staying on 14 May.

The complainant's lawyer said outside court she
"just wants justice".

Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer said there was "no
element of compulsion" in the incident between the
two parties.

The former finance chief arrived at the New York
Supreme Court on Monday with his wife, the French
television journalist Anne Sinclair.

A group of hotel workers shouted, "Shame on you!"
in a show of solidarity with the maid who accuses
him of attacking her.

She is an immigrant worker from the West African
country of Guinea.

The accused spoke in a firm voice only twice: to
enter his plea, and to confirm his next
appearance.

His formal plea before Judge Michael Obus sets the
stage for a lengthy trial process, which is likely
to start in the autumn.

Mr Strauss-Kahn's next court date is set for 18
July.

If found guilty, the 62-year-old faces up to 25
years in prison.

After receiving the complaint, New York police
arrested Mr Strauss-Kahn on a plane that was about
to take off for Paris.

They charged him on 15 May on seven counts,
including attempted rape, criminal sexual assault,
sex abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible
touching.

Mr Strauss-Kahn spent four days behind bars in
Rikers Island prison, before being bailed.

He has since been under house arrest and an armed
guard, first in a Manhattan apartment and now in a
deluxe townhouse.

The arrest made headline news around the world,
rocking the political establishment in France,
where Mr Strauss-Kahn was considered a potential
contender in next year's presidential elections.

Many in France believe that the Socialist party
figure has been mistreated, but the case has also
sparked a national debate about sexual
harassment.

Mr Strauss-Kahn resigned his post at the IMF after
his arrest. The organisation has yet to name a
permanent replacement.

The prosecution says it is confident it has DNA
samples that prove the allegations by Mr
Strauss-Kahn's accuser.

Strauss-Kahn lawyer Benjamin Brafman insisted last
month that any forensic evidence would not be
"consistent with a forcible encounter".

The defence is expected to admit a sexual
encounter took place, but argue that it was
consensual.

Mr Brafman has previously defended a string of
high-profile clients, including Michael Jackson.

Source - BBC

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