New York hotel maid goes public over Strauss-Kahn rape accusations

THE hotel maid who accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of attempting to rape her has broken her silence over the alleged attack, and opened the door to civil proceedings in New York.

Nafissatou Diallo, 32, ended her anonymity in interviews to US media, stating that she had to go public in order to hold the former International Monetary Fund (IMF) boss to account.

"I want justice. I want him to go to jail," Ms Diallo said.

The interview comes a week before Strauss-Kahn is due to return to a Manhattan court over the sex assault claims. The case has been on the brink of collapse since prosecutors admitted "substantial credibility issues" with the alleged victim.

In an apparent move anticipating the dropping of criminal charges, Ms Diallo's lawyer yesterday indicated he intends to file a civil lawsuit against Strauss-Kahn on his client's behalf. The decision to break her silence appears in part an attempt to restore her reputation amid damaging headlines, while also piling pressure on the district attorney not to dismiss the case.

Lawyers for the 62-year-old Frenchman hit out at the "unseemly circus" caused by the US television interview, and a second given to magazine Newsweek. In a statement, William Taylor and Benjamin Brafman said: "Its obvious purpose is to inflame public opinion against a defendant in a pending criminal case."

They added: "Ms Diallo is the first accuser in history to conduct a media campaign to persuade a prosecutor to pursue charges against a person from whom she wants money."

Strauss-Kahn was charged with offences including attempted rape, forcible touching and committing a criminal sexual act in relation to an incident on 14 May. His accuser claims that the former IMF managing director chased her down the corridor of an upmarket New York hotel suite before attempting to pull down her undergarments and forcing her to perform oral sex on him.

Strauss-Kahn's lawyers have suggested the encounter was consensual. But in her interviews with the media, Ms Diallo denied that claim. "God is my witness, I'm telling the truth from my heart," she said.

The 32-year-old immigrant from Guinea also gave further details of the alleged attack. Ms Diallo told how she had apologised to Strauss-Kahn after she caught sight of him naked while cleaning his room. "You don't have to be sorry," she quoted the French politician as replying.

He then told the maid that she was "beautiful" before turning aggressive, it was claimed. "I turned my head. He comes to me and grab my breasts," Ms Diallo said. "I said, 'Sir, stop this. I don't want to lose my job.'"

Strauss-Kahn acted like a "crazy man" she said. After the attack she ran to a hallway and waited for him to leave before informing a supervisor, she said.

Earlier this month, prosecutors claimed the chambermaid had given differing accounts of her actions after the alleged attack, which added to their belief that there were credibility issues with her. But Ms Diallo denied she had changed her story and hit out at reports that she had worked as a prostitute - a claim that has led to a lawsuit being filed against a New York tabloid.

In going public with her story, Ms Diallo said of Strauss Kahn: "I want him to know there are some places you cannot use your power, you cannot use your money."

Until the scandal broke, Strauss-Kahn was being tipped as a future French presidential candidate with a good chance of beating Nicolas Sarkozy in next year's election.