Strauss-Kahn charges dropped

All criminal charges against former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn were dropped in a New York court on Tuesday, following accusations of a sexual attack on a hotel maid.

 The ruling came after Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance questioned the credibility of Strauss-Kahn’s accuser, Nafissatou Diallo, the FT reports.

“After a careful and deliberative review of all the evidence, this team followed the facts where they led, and had to make a decision. I believe the decision we made is absolutely the right one, legally and ethically,” said Vance.

“As prosecutors, we do not work in a world where we expect or require perfect witnesses ... If we are convinced they are truthful about the crimes committed against them, and will tell the truth at trial, we will ask a jury to consider their testimony to prove a crime. If we are not convinced, we cannot, should not and do not take the case to a jury.”

Strauss-Kahn said in a statement the ordeal had been a “nightmare”. “We are obviously gratified that the district attorney agreed with my lawyers that this case had to be dismissed,” he said.

Diallo’s attorney Ken Thompson said Strauss-Kahn had received preferential treatment throughout the case, the FT reports.

Strauss-Kahn was arrested on 15 May on allegations he attacked Diallo, a chambermaid at the Manhattan Sofitel, where he was a guest. Amid a whirlwind of global media attention, he resigned his IMF post within days of his arrest.

Initially held at Rikers Island, he was later detained under house arrest in Manhattan before being released last month.

Before the incident, Strauss-Kahn was seen as a strong Socialist contender to challenge Nicolas Sarkozy for the French presidency next year.

French finance minister Christine Lagarde was appointed new director of the IMF in June.