IMF Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested onboard a flight at JFK airport on Sunday following charges of sexual assault and the attempted rape of a maid at a New York hotel.
Mr Strauss-Kahn – IMF leader and possible candidate for French presidency – was staying at the Sofitel in a suite costing $3 000 (£1 850) a night.
A maid at the hotel was told to clean the suite at about 1pm on Saturday when the incident occurred.
New York police spokesman Paul Browne said that when detectives had arrived at the Sofitel, Strauss-Kahn had already left leaving behind his mobile phone.
“It looked like he got out of there in a hurry,” Browne said.
Strauss-Kahn, 62, was formally arrested by Manhattan police on charges of a criminal sexual act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment.
The NYPD discovered he was at the JFK airport and contacted Port Authority officials where he was escorted from the Air France flight.
Strauss-Kahn was on his way to Europe to discuss the European debt crisis. He was scheduled for a meeting with Angela Merkel in Berlin on Sunday and a meet with European financial ministers on Monday and Tuesday to discuss Greece’s debt crisis and finalise Portugal’s €78bn bailout package, all of which were cancelled.
The IMF made a statment saying it “remains fully functioning and operational”.
“IMF managing director Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York City. Mr Strauss-Kahn has retained legal counsel, and the IMF has no comment on the case; all inquiries will be referred to his personal lawyer and to the local authorities.”