Paris, France.
The popular actor ingles Gérard Depardieu, 72 years old, He was charged with “rape” and “sexual assault” on December 16 allegedly committed against a young actress in 2018, a source close to the case revealed to AFP yesterday, information confirmed by a judicial official.
The judiciary reopened the investigation into these events in the summer of 2020, reported in 2018 and was dismissed at first instance.
The applicant had reported to the police at the end of August 2018 twice raped at the star’s house in Paris a few days before.
During an interrogation on December 16, the magistrate responsible for the case ruled that there are “serious or accidental indications” that the actor was able to commit the charges and for this reason was charged with “rape” and “sexual assault”he explained to AFP.
Hervé Témime, Depardieu’s lawyer, contacted by AFP, “regretted that this information was made public”.
The iconic and controversial actor, which is free without any form of judicial control, “completely rejects the acts of which he is accusedhis lawyer said.
The applicant, who is younger than 30 years, accuses her of several rapes and assaults which took place on 7 and 13 August 2018 at the actor’s home in Paris.
After the Paris prosecutor’s office closed the investigation in June 2019, the actress had restarted her complaint and an investigating judge reopened the investigation in August 2020.
According to a source close to the investigation, the actor is a friend of the victim’s family and in the past there was a fight between the two at a police station in the French capital.
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“There is nothing related to professional activity” in the case, the source said, despite the fact that the French press stated that the attacks took place during a theatrical rehearsal.
When AFP contacted the victim’s lawyer, Elodie Tuaillon-Hibon, asked to “protect her client’s privacy and privacy.”
A star surrounded by controversy
After becoming known with The ball breakers by Bertrand Blier and won the César for best actor for his role in The last meter (1980) by François Truffaut, Depardieu was consecrated for his interpretations of characteristic characters from French literature such as Cyrano de Bergerac or Jean Valjean de The unfortunate.
Father of four children, including actor Guillaume Depardieu who died in 2008, Gérard Depardieu is one of the most famous French actors in the world and he was often embroiled in controversy.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin granted him Russian citizenship in early 2013, and in 2019 the actor converted to Orthodox Christianity.
In addition to his successful film career, he is also an entrepreneur in the food and wine industry and has had a modest career as a singer.
After the rise of #MeToo in 2017, several French film figures were accused of rape, including directors Christophe Ruggia and Luc Besson.