Canadian director Haggis arrested in Italy on sexual assault allegations

Rome, Jun 20 (EFE).- Oscar-winning Canadian director and screenwriter Paul Haggis on Monday denied allegations of committing sexual assault against a woman over a period of two days in Italy, where he is being held under preventative house arrest, his lawyer told Efe.

Michele Laforgia said in a statement to Efe that Haggis maintained his complete innocence and hoped for the investigations to conclude swiftly.

Haggis was detained in the southern Italian town of Ostuni on Sunday on the orders of the provincial prosecutor’s office in Brindisi.

Prosecutors claimed that the 69-year-old filmmaker sexually assaulted a non-Italian woman who was later dropped off at the airport, where she spoke with authorities.

“The suspect allegedly forced the young woman, whom he met some time ago, to undergo sexual intercourse,” prosecutors said, adding that the alleged victim was forced to seek medical attention.

Haggis, who won Oscars for Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Crash (2005), was in the region ahead of a film festival.

In 2018, four American women accused him of sexual misconduct, including rape. EFE

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