IMF head facing charges over sex attacks claims

IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested in JFK airport as authorities are investigating an alleged attack on a maid at the Sofitel New York hotel near Manhattan’s Time Square.

According to the NYPD spokesman, officers had been called to the hotel shortly after the alleed incident. By the time the police arrived, Strauss-Kahn had already left the hotel, but left behind his mobile phone and other personal items.

“It looked like he got out of there in a hurry,” the spokesman added.

Back in October 2008, Strauss-Kahn had issued an apology to the IMF staff after accusations that he had a sexual relationship with an IMF subordinate.

Strauss-Kahn took over as head of the International Monetary Fund in November 2007. He won praise for his leadership at the IMF during the financial crisis of 2008 and the global recession that followed.

He has also directed the IMF's participation in bailout efforts to keep a European debt crisis which began in Greece from destabilising the global economy.