MANHATTAN (CN) - Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund and reputed frontrunner in the French presidential elections, was arraigned in New York Criminal Court on Monday morning for allegedly attempting to rape a maid at the Sofitel Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
According to the criminal complaint, the maid opened the door to Strauss-Kahn's room while he was naked, and the IMF leader closed the door to prevent her from leaving. He then allegedly grabbed her chest, tried to pull down her pantyhose and twice forced his penis into her mouth to try to initiate oral sex.
"Mr. Strauss-Kahn will plead not guilty," his attorneys William W. Taylor III and Benjamin Branfman wrote in a terse statement. "He denies all the charges."
The IMF also released a guarded statement on Monday, announcing only that it will be monitoring the developments of the case.
"The Executive Board convened this afternoon in informal session to receive a verbal report from senior Fund officials," IMF spokeswoman Caroline Atkinson said. "The IMF and its Executive Board will continue to monitor developments."
The top charge, criminal sexual act in the first degree, carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Melissa C. Jackson refused to let Strauss-Kahn out on bail, and remanded him to prison.
She set the next court date for Friday.
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