The police custody of director Christophe Ruggia, accused of "touching" by actress Adèle Haenel, was extended after the first 24 hours, we learned this Wednesday from the Paris prosecutor's office.
The 55-year-old filmmaker, who disputes this challenge, was arrested Tuesday morning before being questioned in Nanterre, in the western suburbs of Paris, by investigators from the Central Office for the Suppression of Violence against Persons (OCRVP ). This police custody can last up to 48 hours.
"Sexual assault" on a minor
The 31-year-old actress, rewarded by two Cesars, claims to have been the victim of "touching" and "sexual harassment" on the part of Christophe Ruggia when she was 12 to 15 years old. These acts would have occurred in particular during the shooting of the film Les Diables (2002) directed by Christophe Ruggia and in which appears Adèle Haenel, then 13 years old.
After testifying with Mediapart and initially refusing to take legal action, the actress had finally filed a complaint a few days after the opening by the Paris prosecutor's office of an investigation for "sexual assault" on a minor under 15 years "by person having authority" and "sexual harassment".
"Obtain recognition of his victim status"
She was heard by investigators on November 26 and December 2. She explained that it was "the public denials" of Christophe Ruggia that "determined her to obtain judicial recognition of her status as a victim". Christophe Ruggia, little known to the general public, has defended himself several times in the media, claiming for example to have "made the mistake of playing the pygmalions with the misunderstandings and obstacles that such a posture gives rise to".
These accusations have caused an earthquake in the French cinema industry, which until then had remained fairly impervious to the #MeToo movement. A few days later, new rape charges brought by a French photographer against the famous Franco-Polish director Roman Polanski again shook the world of the 7th art.
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- Sexual assault
- Justice
- metoo
- Adele Haenel
- Sexual harassment
- Cinema