FRENCH POLITICIAN and former head of the IMF Dominique Strauss-Kahn will be released from Rikers Prison today after being granted bail of $1m yesterday.
Strauss-Kahn, 62, has been formally indicted on charges of attempted rape against a woman who worked as a chambermaid at the Manhattan hotel he stayed in last weekend.
He was sent to Rikers after being denied bail on Monday, but bail was approved yesterday on the condition that he remains confined to an apartment in New York under armed guard while he awaits trial. The apartment is rented by his wife, according to his lawyers. Bail of $1m must be posted, but the Frenchman will also have to take out a $5m insurance bond.
His lawyers said he was an honourable man who did not need bail to confirm his court appearance. US authorities have not indicated what time Strauss-Kahn will be released from jail today
The woman has accused Strauss-Kahn of chasing her down a hallway, forcing her to perform oral sex and attempting to remove her underwear before she broke away and fled the hotel room.
No trial date has been set.
After intense international and political pressure, Strauss-Kahn resigned from his IMF position yesterday. In his resignation letter, Strauss-Kahn said he was thinking of his wife, children, family, friends and colleagues at this time. He said he wanted to protect the IMF while focusing his full strength and time on proving his innocence.
- Additional reporting by the AP
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