Thaindian News

New York, May 15 (IANS) The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a New York hotel housekeeping employee.

Strauss-Kahn, 62, who became the IMF’s 10th managing director in November 2007, was pulled off an Air France flight destined for Paris at John F. Kennedy International Airport Saturday after the alleged incident, police said.

He was taken into custody and first brought to a Manhattan police station for questioning and then formally arrested at 2.15 a.m. Sunday, New York Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said.

The IMF chief has been charged with criminal sexual act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment, CNN said citing an e-mail from his attorney Benjamin Brafman early Sunday.

CNN also quoted Browne as saying that Strauss-Kahn allegedly emerged naked when the 32-year-old hotel employee entered his room at the Sofitel hotel to clean it around 1 p.m. Saturday.

The housekeeping employee said she did not think anyone was in the luxury $3,000-a-night suite when she entered, Browne said.

Browne said Strauss-Kahn ran after her down the hallway of the suite. The suite has its own foyer, hallway, living room, bathroom, conference room and bedroom.

The woman said Strauss-Kahn pulled her into a bedroom and started attacking her. She fought him off, but Strauss-Kahn then dragged her into the bathroom and forced himself on her.

Police said Strauss-Kahn tried to remove her underwear, but the woman got away.

She ran to the front desk, Browne said, adding that hotel staff alerted the New York Police Department.

By the time officers arrived, Strauss-Kahn had left, leaving his cell phone behind at the hotel, according to Browne.

“The alleged victim was taken to Roosevelt Hospital (in Manhattan) and was treated for minor injuries,” Browne said.

Authorities learned the IMF head was on an outbound flight at the J.F.K. airport. New York police asked their counterparts at the Port Authority to hold the plane.

Two plainclothes Port Authority police detectives boarded the aircraft “just before the door closed” on the flight, and found Strauss-Kahn seated in the first class, said a law enforcement official, according to CNN.

He “offered no resistance” when he was led off the plane, after which he was turned over to New York police, the official said.