"I am innocent and I have nothing to fear," actor Gérard Depardieu told Italian newspaper La Repubblica on Thursday, reacting to his indictment in an investigation against him for "rape".
The emblematic actor of Cyrano de Bergerac once again evokes "the completely unfounded character of the accusations", adding: "there is no proof, there is nothing against me", in his interview with the Italian daily of reference.
The Paris public prosecutor's office had asked an examining magistrate to investigate the rape accusations against Gérard Depardieu, who contests them "absolutely", after having initially dismissed a first procedure. After analyzing the investigations, the Paris prosecutor's office decided on June 4, 2019 to dismiss the investigation, considering that the rapes are not characterized. But the complainant filed a second complaint with a civil action in August 2020. An examining magistrate was then appointed to investigate. The magistrate considers, unlike the prosecution, that there are serious and concordant clues justifying the indictment of Gérard Depardieu. “My client disputes his indictment, insists his lawyer, Me Hervé Temime. I regret that it is made public, the presumption of innocence being once again flouted ”