Strauss-Kahn Indicted, Granted Bail

Strauss-Kahn Indicted, Granted Bail: MyFoxNY.com

A judge granted former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn bail on Thursday afternoon. He will post $1 million as part of the agreement and remain confined to his wife's New York City apartment around-the-clock with monitoring by armed guards. Strauss-Kahn also had to provide $5 million in collateral.

Strauss-Kahn had waived his extradition rights in a bid to win his release. The judge announced the decision in front of a packed Manhattan courtroom on Thursday afternoon.

His wife and daughter were in the courtroom for the hearing. Strauss-Kahn was wearing a gray suit and an open blue shirt for the hearing.

Strauss-Kahn is accused of trying to rape a Manhattan maid at a luxury Times Square hotel. A grand jury handed up an indictment against Dominique Strauss-Kahn before the hearing.

Strauss-Kahn is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree attempted rape, first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, third-degree sexual abuse, and forcible touching, according to the indictment.

"Under American law, these are extremely serious charges, based on the grand jury's determination that the evidence supports the commission of non-consensual, forced sexual acts," District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said. "During the course of the criminal process, this defendant, under the supervision of an independent and experienced judge, will receive all of the protections available to ensure a fair trial. These protections are guaranteed to everyone charged with crimes in America, whether or not they are residents or visitors."

His lawyer told the judge that Strauss-Kahn is an "honorable" man who will not skip bail. The lawyer said the D.A.'s office already has his client's passport, and that he will turn over a United Nations travel document, called a laissez-passez, over the weekend.

Strauss-Kahn will return to Rikers Island pending his release and is likely to spend one more night in jail.

The 62-year-old has been held at the Rikers Island jail in the wake of his arrest at JFK Airport last Saturday. Strauss-Kahn's lawyers showed documents at Thursday's bail hearing showing that the ticket for that flight had been purchased five days before the alleged attack in an effort to prove his client was not trying to flee the country.

He originally faced seven charges including committing a criminal sex act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment, all of which he denies.

Strauss-Kahn, a French citizen, was denied bail Monday because he was deemed a potential flight risk.

The next court hearing on the case is set for June 6.