Strauss-Kahn soon set for release on bail

Strauss-Kahn, a global high-flier seen as having a strong shot at the French presidency until his arrest, spent the last of four nights at New York's notorious Rikers Island jail.

The package of conditions set by a judge on Thursday to let him leave jail -- US$1 million cash bail, a US$5 million insurance bond and house arrest at a New York apartment under armed guard and electronic monitoring -- was due to be signed on Friday.

A spokeswoman for the New York City Department of Correction said Strauss-Kahn would be taken to an undisclosed location where he would be safely and discreetly handed over to lawyers and possibly members of his family to avoid a media glare.

Once out of the Rikers cell and in the apartment, he will have unlimited access to his lawyers to prepare his defence and will be joined by his wife and daughter.

Under his IMF contract, Strauss-Kahn is entitled to a "separation allowance" of 60 percent of his last salary and an annual pension of the same percentage. ABC News calculated that the "golden parachute" was worth US$318,000, with the same amount in pension for the rest of his life.