IMF’s Lagarde: Presumption of innocence crucial

IMF managing director Christine Lagarde holds a news briefing at the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington July 6, 2011.

IMF managing director Christine Lagarde holds a news briefing at the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington July 6, 2011.

Published Jul 6, 2011

Share

New IMF chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday that media should respect the presumption of innocence in crime cases, as the sex case against her predecessor Dominique Strauss-Kahn appeared to be falling apart.

“I think the presumption of innocence is something that is highly valued the world over,” Lagarde said in her debut press conference at the International Monetary Fund, when asked about US handling of Strauss-Kahn's case.

“I think it would be the honor of the media to actually respect that as well,” she said, while not commenting directly on the case.

Strauss-Kahn, a French politician and economist, resigned as IMF managing director on May 18 to fight charges in New York that he had sexually assaulted a hotel chambermaid.

After weeks of heavy US press coverage of the case, last week the prosecutor admitted serious doubts about the credibility of the accuser.

US press reports Monday said the charges could soon be dropped, citing sources close to the case. - Sapa-AFP

Related Topics: