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Friday, 17 June 2011

Dominique Strauss-Kahn 'complained about handcuffing'

Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn complained about being handcuffed and initially claimed diplomatic immunity when he was arrested for sexual assault in New York, official documents reveal.
Transcripts released by prosecutors in New York reveal the detail of the day Mr Strauss-Kahn was arrested at the city's JFK airport.
He has since resigned from the IMF and is living on bail in New York.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault on a hotel chambermaid.
His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, refused to comment on the release of the transcripts.
Airport ruse
The transcripts reveal details of how hotel staff and police investigators managed to detain Mr Strauss-Kahn as he attempted to leave the country on an Air France jet.
As has previously been reported, Mr Strauss-Kahn phoned the Sofitel Hotel about 1530 local time (1930 GMT), saying he had left his mobile phone.
While police listened in, hotel promised to return it to him at the Air France terminal at JFK International Airport. Instead, police arrived to arrest him.
At the airport police station, detectives ordered Mr Strauss-Kahn to empty his pockets, the documents show.
"Is that necessary?" he asked when handcuffs were produced.
"Yes it is," said Detective Diwan Maharaj of the New York Port Authority Police.
Mr Strauss-Kahn then asserted he had diplomatic immunity, and asked to speak to the French consulate.
Ten minutes later, Mr Strauss-Kahn asked if he could be handcuffed "in the front", and five minutes after that, he said, "I need to make a call and let them know I won't be at my meeting tomorrow. These handcuffs are tight."
About 2045 local time, Mr Strauss-Kahn was at a detective's office in Manhattan, and asked if he could have coffee.
Fifteen minutes later, Mr Strauss-Kahn asked, "Do I need a lawyer?"
Breakfast
By the time of this conversation, the documents reveal that Mr Strauss-Kahn may have changed his mind over the issue of diplomatic immunity.
"It is your right to have one in this country if you want. I don't know if you have some kind of diplomatic status," Detective Miguel Rivera replied.
"No, no no, I'm not trying to use that," Mr Strauss-Kahn said. "I just want to know if I need a lawyer."
"That is up to you," Mr Rivera responded.
Several days after his arrest, the IMF said Mr Strauss-Kahn, as managing director, had only limited immunity that was not applicable in the New York case.
Two hours after Mr Strauss-Kahn asked whether he needed a lawyer, he told the detectives the lawyer had told him not to talk.
The following morning, police asked Mr Strauss-Kahn if he wanted something to eat.
"I would like some eggs," he said.
The following evening, Mr Strauss-Kahn asked for a sandwich.

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