Court refuses to grant bail to Strauss-Kahn
May 18, 2011 00:00:00
Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, May 17: Criminal Court Judge Melissa Jackson conceding to prosecutors demand that 'he is a flight risk' declined to enlarge Dominique Strauss-Kahn, IMF managing director on bail yesterday. The offer of bail with bond of $1.0 million proposed by IMF chief's wife was rejected.
The judge has remanded him to a single person cell. The next hearing has been fixed for Friday. Benjamin Brafman, attorney for Strauss-Kahn said his client has rejected the charges and described the case "very defensible". The prosecution attorney opposing the bail said if released on bail, he would flee.
The Judge did not agree with the contention that he be fitted with an electronic tag. If convicted, IMF boss
could face upto 74 years' imprisonment.
The absence of Dominique Strauss-Kahn cast a long shadow of gloom at the European finance ministers meeting in Brussels yesterday. He was described as a powerful and experienced European, playing a crucial role in the global financial crisis. He enjoyed the trust and confidence of European leaders. Neamat Shafiq, an IMF deputy managing director deputised for Strauss-Kahn.
The IMF chief's detention was not discussed at the meeting but its implication was debated in the corridors.
Meanwhile, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor of the International Court of Justice has requested for arrest of warrant for Gaddafi, his son Saif Islam and the head of the Intelligence Agency, accusing them for crimes against humanity. "We have direct evidence of each of them being involved in crimes', his office said.
Gaddafi had personally ordered attacks on unarmed civilians.
Gaddafi's deputy foreign minister dismissed the warrant request "as an irrelevant act by a body whose authority it has never recognised". The court has no enforcement power.