Dominique Strauss-Kahn does have immunity so why not use it?

I have written here before about the IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn troubles and pondered if he had diplomatic immunity. Well I have my answer: yes he does.

But not the normal diplomatic immunity. He has super immunity!

As we are all aware registered diplomats are immune from prosecution in the country to which their country sends them unless it is waived. That is a German diplomat sent to China as a diplomat recognise by the Chinese state is immune to prosecution in China. But only China.

However Strauss-Kahn goes one better than that. As head of a UN agency, in this case the IMF, he is immune from any prosecution anywhere in the world.

See here.

I have made a note that before I start my long delayed career as a super criminal I should become the head of a UN agency. I feel it could be handy.

The question is why hasn't he used his immunity?

Obviously this is pure speculation on my part, you need to remember that. If he did claim immunity for the alleged crime the uproar in the US would be massive. This would be unpleasant.

He would however be freed. The US could ask the UN to waive his immunity but I doubt that would happen. It don't think the French would agree. You see he may be a deadly rival to their president but it would be political suicide for him to be seen to act against DSK, even if he wanted to. DSK also has massive support in the UN because of his work with the IMF. There is no chance of them agreeing to strip him of his immunity if if it were proved he was guilty.

So why not claim immunity?

If he does it could be political disaster for him and he was on track to become the next president of France.

More than that he'd have to live the rest of his life with some people thinking he was guilty who only was sped justice due to politics. If he is innocent it would be unbearable.

Now I've no idea if he is guilty or not, as I've written here before. He may be an innocent man wanting to prove his innocence, or a guilty man who thinks he can get off with it.

Either way it may be political beneficial not to use his immunity.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad