current technology: Strauss-Kahn freed without bail

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Strauss-Kahn freed without bail

Dominique Strauss-Kahn walking into a courtroom in New York on Friday

Mr Strauss-Kahn is appearing in court in New York over the sexual assault case

Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is set to be released from house arrest and have his $6m (£3.7m) cash bail and bond returned, say reports.

Prosecutors are said to have agreed that Mr Strauss-Kahn should be freed "on his own recognisance," meaning he must simply promise to appear in court.

He is accused of sexually assaulting a maid in a New York hotel on 14 May.

But the case is reported to be close to collapse after serious doubts arose about the credibility of his accuser.

The 62-year-old French politician is appearing in court in New York over the sexual assault case.

Law enforcement officials have told US media the accuser has repeatedly lied since the alleged attack on 14 May.

The Guinean-born maid also appeared to have lied about her asylum application, officials reportedly said.

"She actually recounted the entire story to prosecutors and later said it was false," one law enforcement official told the Associated Press news agency.

But prosecutors have not necessarily reached a new conclusion over the allegations against Mr Strauss-Kahn and have not decided whether to downgrade the charges, the official said.

Mr Strauss-Kahn, 62, has been under house arrest in a New York apartment since posting a $6m (£3.7m) cash bail and bond in May.

He is charged with seven counts including four felony charges - two of criminal sexual acts, one of attempted rape and one of sexual abuse - plus three misdemeanour offences, including unlawful imprisonment.

Mr Strauss-Kahn, who resigned as head of the International Monetary Fund to defend himself, vigorously denies the charges.

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.