French singer Patrick Brunel is facing several allegations from at least 13 women of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault, the prosecutor’s office in Nanterre said on Tuesday.
Singer Patrick Brunel is facing allegations of rape and sexual assault. The French singer, one of France’s best-known stars, is currently under judicial investigation following the Me Too movement.
Having spent two days in custody in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre, the 67-year-old faced a panel of four judges on Wednesday. They confirmed the state prosecutor’s request that he be investigated for several cases of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and harassment.
The singer denies the allegations made against him. While under investigation, an examining magistrate will further investigate the charges against the singer. His lawyers will also have access to the prosecution file.
French law states that rape is defined by “any non-consensual act of penetration”. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the investigation began after three women accused Bruel of sexual assault and attempted rape, allegedly committed in 1997, 2000 and 2001.
During the investigation, additional women were identified and interviewed. They reported allegations of rape or attempted rape, sexual assault and harassment, according to the statement.
Separately, an investigation opened in western France over an alleged rape in 2012 in Dinard, in the Brittany region, was transferred to the Nanterre prosecutor’s office.
Belgian authorities also formally notified French prosecutors earlier this month of allegations by a woman who accused Bruel of rape and sexual assault, allegedly committed in Brussels in 2010, according to the statement.
Bruel’s lawyers, Christophe Ingrain, Céline Lasek and Fanny Colin said in a statement the singer has indicated for several weeks “he was available to the judicial authorities so that he could finally respond through the proper legal proceedings.”
French judicial authorities could either file preliminary charges against Bruel or release him free of charges by the end of the day. In recent weeks, a series of media reports, notably by the French investigative website Mediapart, brought to public attention allegations by multiple women spanning decades against Bruel, prompting additional complaints to be filed.
His last performances in Paris were cancelled because of allegations, along with several dates on a planned tour across France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada.
He also faced a series of complaints for sexual harassment, but these were closed in 2020 due to a lack of evidence. In May, Mediaport reported that around 30 women had made similar claims of harassment or assault, with many of them taking place at film locations or off-stage in music venues.
According to French media, the singer told his “entourage” that “I may have been heavy-handed… But I always took no for an answer”. Last month, on Instagram, the singer stated he had never “forced myself on a woman”. He added: “Nor have I ever drugged, manipulated or tried to subjugate anyone… nor used my fame to abuse or obtain non-consensual relations.”
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
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