French prosecutors demand rape charges against film director

French prosecutors have asked for the well-known art film director Benoit Jacquot to be charged with the rape of actresses Isild Le Besco and Julia Roy, the Paris prosecutor’s office told AFP on Wednesday.

Jacquot, 77, was detained for questioning on Monday after actor Judith Godreche, 52, filed a complaint against him earlier this year alleging he raped her during a years-long relationship that began when she was 14.

Le Besco, 41, then filed a complaint alleging rape during a relationship with Jacquot that also began when she was a minor. Roy, 34, accused him of sexual assault.

Jacquot denied all accusations.

Prosecutors do not plan to file charges against Jacquot in connection with Godreche’s accusations at this time.

However, they asked an investigating judge to charge him with “rape, sexual assault and violence” allegedly committed against Roy, likely between 2013 and 2018.

Prosecutors sought additional charges of “rape of a minor by a person in a position of authority” and “rape by a partner” allegedly committed against Le Besco, likely between 1998 and 2000 and again in 2007.

They demanded that Jacquot, who spent two nights in custody, be released but that he be kept under judicial supervision.

Another director, 80-year-old Jacques Doillon, was also questioned on Monday morning.

However, he was released on Tuesday evening “for medical reasons,” the prosecutor’s office said, adding that it had yet to decide on further action.

Godreche accused him of sexually assaulting her during filming when she was 15. Le Besco and another actress, Anna Mouglalis, 46, claimed the filmmaker forced her to kiss him in 2011.

Doillon also rejected these accusations.

Godreche has become a leading figure in France’s #MeToo movement since she accused Jacquot earlier this year of seducing and abusing her when she was a teenager.

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