DSK Initially Told Police He Had Diplomatic Immunity
New court records detail former IMF chief's first hours in police custody.
| Posted Friday, June 17, 2011, at 11:51 AM
Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn initially attempted to claim diplomatic immunity when he was arrested for sexual assault and attempted rape last month, according to court documents filed by prosecutors Friday.
The documents provide the most complete time line yet of Strauss-Kahn's arrest at JFK airport and his initial hours in police custody.
Although DSK does possess a laissez-passer travel document issued by the United Nations, it does not provide him with diplomatic immunity because he was in New York City on vacation, not on official IMF business.
Hours after his arrest, DSK appeared to have dropped his push for immunity, the documents reveal:
“Do I need a lawyer?” he asked the detective.
“It is your right to have one in this country if you want. I don’t know if you have some kind of diplomatic status,” the detective responded.
“No, no, no, I’m not trying to use that,” DSK replied. “I just want to know if I need a lawyer.”
“That is up to you,” the detective said.
Roughly five hours after his arrest, DSK told police that he had been instructed by his lawyers not to talk with detectives. "My attorney has told me not to talk," Strauss-Kahn said, according to the documents. "I was ready to talk."
As he was led off the Air France flight and out of JFK International airport, DSK also complained about his handcuffs being too tight, msnbc.com reports.
After paying a $1 million cash bail (and $5 million bond), DSK is currently under house arrest at a TriBeCa townhouse, awaiting his next court date on July 18.
Fun fact: the luxury 6,800 square-feet, three-story New York City townhouse (including home theater, bar, gym and spa) costs somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000 a month. It could be a fabulous city vacation home – if DSK was not facing the possibility of 25 years in prison if convicted.
