Paris (AFP)

Roman Polanski, accused by a French woman, Valentine Monnier, to have raped her in 1975, refutes this accusation "with the greatest firmness," said Sunday his lawyer, who reflects "the judicial action to bring" the publication of this testimony in the Parisian.

"Mr. Polanski challenges with the utmost firmness this accusation of rape," said Hervé Temime in a statement sent to AFP.

"We are working on the legal consequences to bring to this publication," said the lawyer, who said that the director, whose next film on the Dreyfus Affair comes out Wednesday in France, "will not participate in the media court and (him) not more. "

In a testimony published by the Parisian on Friday evening, Valentine Monnier, photographer, former model and who also played in some films in the 80s, accuses Roman Polanski of having struck and raped in 1975 in Switzerland when she had ten -eight years.

The French, whose accusations are added to those of other women in recent years, all also refuted by Roman Polanski, said not to have filed a complaint for these facts, prescribed. But she claims to have decided to publicly bear this accusation because of the release in France of "J'accuse", which relates to a miscarriage of justice, the Dreyfus case.

"I just want to remind you that this accusation concerns facts that are forty-five years old, that this accusation has never been brought to the attention of Mr. Polanski, nor to the judicial institution, except a courier. to the California Attorney General two years ago, to read Le Parisien ", wrote Me Temime in his statement.

"If these facts are prescribed for more than thirty years, it is also because it is impossible after such a period to collect all the elements necessary for an investigation respecting the criteria required by the administration of good justice", continues the advice of Roman Polanski, who, "in these conditions", "deplores" the publication of these new accusations a few days before the release of "J'accuse".

Valentine Monnier received Saturday the support of actress Adèle Haenel, one of the most popular French actresses, who has himself accused in recent days director Christophe Ruggia "touching" and "sexual harassment" when she was a teenager.

At the Venice Film Festival, "J'accuse" was awarded the Grand Prix du jury but the director's selection in competition had already sparked a controversy.

Roman Polanski is still being sued by US justice as part of a minor diversion procedure launched in 1977.

© 2019 AFP