Director Paul Haggis arrested on sexual assault charges. Photo | Yonhap News Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis, 69, has been arrested in Italy on charges of sexual assault.
According to the Associated Press on the 19th (local time), director Paul Haggis is accused of having sex without consent for two days with a young woman while he was in Italy to attend a film festival in Ostuni, Italy. She did not disclose the woman’s nationality or age.
Italian prosecutors said that Haggis left the Brindisi airport early on the morning of the 19th after forcing him to have an affair with a foreign woman. Prosecutors said, “Despite this woman’s physically and psychologically unstable situation, she was abandoned at dawn.”
Airport staff found the woman and took her to the police station, who took the woman to the hospital. Prosecutors said the woman had formally filed a complaint and was confirming the facts of the sexual assault on her.
Director Paul Haggis’ attorney said, “I am confident that all charges against Haggis will be dismissed.” Coach Paul Haggis is in custody.
Canadian director Paul Haggis won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for ‘Crash’ in 2006. He wrote screenplays for the films ‘Million Dollar Baby’ and ‘Casino Royale’ and directed ‘Three Days’. In 2018, he was accused of sexual assault and sexual assault by four women.
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