The custody of the handball player of the French European champion team Benoît Kounkoud was lifted on Wednesday during the day, the Paris prosecutor's office said this Wednesday evening, which opened an investigation into attempted rape.
“The investigation is continuing, in particular in order to collect more testimonies,” said the prosecution.
At this stage, a woman in her twenties accuses the 26-year-old right winger, who plays for a Polish club, of having tried to rape her in a nightclub in the capital on Monday night on Tuesday, less than forty-eight hours after being crowned European champion with the French handball team in Cologne (Germany).
Alcoholic evening in a nightclub in the 8th arrondissement
According to the first elements of the investigation, Benoît Kounkoud would have pulled down his pants around 4:30 a.m. and attempted to rape a young woman.
Alerted to the situation, a security guard then kept the player there until the arrival of the BAC night police officers.
His custody in the premises of the 1st judicial police district (DPJ) began early Tuesday morning, according to the prosecution.
“A woman born in March 2003 accuses him of attempted rape, during an alcoholic evening in a nightclub in the 8th arrondissement,” explained the public prosecutor.
It was not immediately possible to know Benoît Kounkoud's position on the accusations against him.
Read alsoHandball: who is Benoît Kounkoud, the French European champion accused of attempted rape?
The French Handball Federation wanted to react this Wednesday through a press release.
“FFHandball has taken note of the accusations against Benoît Kounkoud, placed in police custody on Tuesday morning in Paris.
FFHandball is not in a position to comment on this matter at this stage, and remains attentive to the follow-up that will be given by the judicial authorities.
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