20 May 2011

Strauss-Kahn granted bail

3:25 pm on 20 May 2011

A judge in Manhattan has granted bail to former International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is charged with attempted rape and assault of a hotel maid.

Mr Strauss-Kahn was denied bail on Monday when a judge ruled that he was a flight risk, because he was arrested while trying to leave the United States at 4.40pm local time on Saturday.

In a second hearing on Thursday, he was placed under home detention with electronic monitoring.

Bail was set at $US1 million cash and an insurance bond of $US5 million.

Judge Michael Obus also said Mr Strauss-Kahn must have one armed guard at all times at his own expense.

Mr Strauss-Kahn resigned as managing director of the IMF on Wednesday and has indicated he will fight the charges, which arose from an incident at a hotel on 14 May.

His wife, French television journalist Anne Sinclair, and daughter, Camille, were in court for the hearing.

The judge asked for details of Mr Strauss-Kahn's financial situation.

The defence said he had a net worth of roughly $US2 million and offered $US1 million bail.

Mr Strauss-Kahn will remain in custody overnight in prison, until the paperwork is formalised on Friday morning. He was held at Rikers Prison before the hearing.