JUDGE DENIES DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN BAIL

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund and an expected candidate for president of France, was arrested in New York City and charged with sexually assaulting a housekeeper at his hotel.

Judge Melissa C. Jackson, supervising judge of the Manhattan Criminal Court denied Strauss-Kahn bail at a hearing, Monday on the basis that he is a flight risk. The judge took note of the fact that he was arrested while on an Air France airplane within moments of departure. But the planned trip had been planned for some time and he had appointments with European leaders this week. Furthermore it is hard to see how he could escape. He is recognized worldwide and hiding would be difficult. He has volunteered to surrender his passport and United Nations travel documents. He has a daughter in New York City and he agreed to stay with her while the case was pending.

But even if he is not a flight risk bail could be denied. The other reason a court can deny bail is that the defendant is a danger to society. There is evidence that the housekeeper is not the first person he has sexually assaulted. If this holds up the judge could have found him dangerous and denied bail on that ground.