Paris prosecutors launch probe into actress Adèle Haenel's 'paedophilia' accusations against filmmaker

The Paris public prosecution services announced on Wednesday that they have opened a preliminary investigation into French actress Adèle Haenel’s accusations, made in an interview with Mediapart, that filmmaker Christophe Ruggia had sexually harassed her and subjected her to inappropriate “touching” over several years when she was aged between 12 and 15. Haenel, now aged 30, has this week received the support of many leading figures in the French cinema industry. Meanwhile, Ruggia has addressed a new statement to Mediapart in which he recognises a “hold” he may have had over Haenel, but again denies any inappropriate sexual behaviour.