A New York Judge Dismissed All Charges against Strauss-Kahn

A New York judge has now dropped the sexual assault charges against former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

As CRI's correspondent in New York, Shen Ting, reports, the move comes after prosecutors lost faith in the credibility of his accuser.

New York State Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus initially issued a stay on his decision to dismiss all the charges against Strauss-Kahn until an appellate court could hear the housekeeper's motion to appoint a special prosecutor.

However, the appeals court has since denied the request, meaning all the charges against the former IMF are now officially dismissed.

Prosecutors filed court papers on Monday saying they could not trust the word of the hotel housekeeper who made the accusations against Strauss-Kahn.

Assistant district attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon.

"Our inability to believe the complainant beyond a reasonable doubt means, in good faith, that we could not ask a jury to do that."

Questions about the maid's credibility became apparent to prosecutors after inconsistencies began appearing in her statements about exactly what happened in the hotel room.

Strauss-Kahn has now issued his first public statement since being arrested on the tarmac of JFK airport.

"It's the end of a terrible and unjust ordeal. I am relieved by my wife, my children, our friends and all of those who supported me during this period by sending their letters and emails. I want them to know their support was very important."

Strauss-Kahn also says he and his family look forward to returning to their home and resuming something of a more normal life.

The allegations leveled against Strauss-Kahn forced his resignation as the head of the International Monetary Fund, and has severely damaged any hopes he had of running for French President next year.

Meanwhile, Strauss-Kahn's accuser did not attend the hearing on Tuesday.

However, her attorney Kenneth Thompson did, and says his client has been abandoned.

"We are disappointed that District Attorney Vance apparently does not believe in equal justice under the law and has denied an innocent woman a day in court."

A civil suit filed by the Strauss-Kahn's accuser, a Ghanian-native who is living in the United States on refugee status, is still pending.

For CRI News, this is Shen Ting from New York.