Director Paul Haggis was arrested in the southern Italian city of Ostuni on charges of severe sexual violence and grievous bodily harm, according to the New York Times and Variety. Italian media reports and a statement from the prosecutor of the nearby town of Brindisi confirmed Haggis’ arrest. According to reports, Haggis claims to have forced an unnamed young woman identified as “foreign”, meaning non-Italian, to have sex for two days in Ostuni, where Haggis was to teach several master classes at the Allora Film Festival. According to a report by Italian police, after attacking the victim, Haggis left her at Papola Casale Airport in Brindisi, despite her “precarious physical and psychological condition”. The victim, who was in a “confused state”, was assisted by airport officials and border police, who took her to the offices of the Italian Mobile Police Unit and Hospital A. Perino ”in Brindisi, where the so-called A “Pink Protocol” for rape victims was conducted. Hagis was subsequently formally charged.
Haggis’ lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, said in a statement that he could not discuss the evidence under Italian law. “As I said, I am confident that all charges against Mr Haggis will be dropped. He is completely innocent and wants to cooperate fully with the authorities so that the truth comes out quickly, “she continued. Haggis was previously tried in 2018 by publicist Hailey Brest, who claims he raped her in 2013. Subsequently, three other women came out on separate charges of sexually abusing Haggis. Due to COVID-19, the process is still ongoing. Haggis denied all charges.
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