Police said that Paul Haggis, the Oscar-winning director, was taken into custody in Italy on Sunday for sexual assault and aggravated bodily injury.
According to The Associated Press, Haggis (69) was visiting Italy to attend a film festival that will begin Tuesday in Ostuni in the south Puglia region.
Prosecutors from Brindisi, a nearby city, said that he was being held in connection to allegations made by a “young foreign lady” who claimed she was forced into having nonconsensual sexual relationships over a period of two days.
Haggis’ attorney, Priya Chaudhry, claimed that Haggis was innocent and would cooperate with authorities.
Chaudhry stated in a statement that “under Italian Law, it is not possible to discuss the evidence.” “That being said, I am certain that all allegations against Mr. Haggis will be dismissed. He is innocent and will cooperate fully with authorities to get the truth out as quickly as possible.”
According to NBC News, Antonio Negro and Livia Olson, prosecutors, said that the alleged victim was “accompanied” by the man to Brindisi airport on Sunday. They left her there at dawn “despite (her] precarious psychological and physical conditions.”
Prosecutors claimed that the woman was confused by airport workers and police officers and they took her to Brindisi’s headquarters of police.
According to them, the woman sought medical attention and officers accompanied her to the local hospital to examine her.
Prosecutors claimed that the woman had “formalized her complain and cited circumstances”, which investigators then examined for confirmation.
Under the Italian system, bail is not an option. According to Antonio Negro, the trial will be held in Brindisi. The accused is expected to be interrogated within the next few days. Negro stated that the woman accused of Haggis would also be interrogated prior to the trial. Negro did not specify where Haggis was held at the time.
Haggis is also a screenwriter, producer, and director. For the movie “Crash”, he won two Oscars.
He has been in legal trouble before. He has been in trouble before. A publicist claimed he raped his wife after a 2013 movie premiere. She sued him four years later. Three additional women filed civil lawsuits against him.
Haggis denied the allegations and sued Haleigh Breest, a publicist, for trying to bankrupt him. According to The New York Times, Breest’s lawsuit against Haleigh Breest is still pending due to delays related to the pandemic.
