After a lengthy 48-hour police custody, renowned French singer Patrick Bruel has been formally charged with serious offenses, including rape, an attempted rape, and two counts of sexual assault and harassment, as confirmed by a judge at the Nanterre court on the evening of June 10. The judge also noted that Bruel has been designated as an assisted witness for other allegations, citing insufficient evidence to warrant further legal action. Notably, a case concerning an alleged rape incident that took place in Grenoble in 2000 has been deemed too old to pursue legally.
Shortly after midnight, Bruel's legal team announced that he would not be subjected to provisional detention. Instead, the judge decided to place him under judicial supervision. Earlier that day, the Nanterre public prosecutor's office had requested his indictment and provisional detention. Currently, there are nine alleged victims involved in this case, four of whom have filed civil complaints, including claims that had previously been dismissed. Additionally, allegations from thirteen other individuals, who reported incidents of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and harassment occurring between September 1992 and September 2008, have been merged into the ongoing judicial investigation, although these claims are likely to be barred by statutes of limitations at this time.
Among the new allegations is a claim from a client of lawyer Myriam Guedj-Benayoun, who asserts that Bruel attempted to rape her in 2000 when she was just 19 years old at his home. Furthermore, two women represented by lawyer Corinne Herrmann, including journalist Flavie Flament, who accused Bruel of raping her as a teenager in 1991, are also seeking to be heard by an investigating judge regarding their allegations.
Throughout the questioning, Bruel, who is presumed innocent at this stage, has denied all accusations against him. During his police custody, he reportedly acknowledged a conversation with a woman in Brussels in 2010 but maintained that he never assaulted her. Armed with folders and documents to support his defense, Bruel’s legal representatives have remained silent on the latest developments, but previously stated that their client is fully cooperative with the judicial process.
In contrast, attorneys representing several plaintiffs expressed satisfaction with the judicial proceedings, emphasizing this as a significant victory for the victims. Lawyer Jade Dousselin specifically acknowledged Daniela Elstner, the first to courageously come forward in this process, whose testimony was shared in March. Elstner accused Bruel of sexually assaulting and attempting to rape her in November 1997, and she currently serves as the general director of Unifrance.
The prosecutor's office has recognized the severity and volume of the allegations, considering the potential risks of further offenses and the possibility of pressure on victims or witnesses. Lawyer Iris Biehler, representing a woman who accused Bruel of sexual assault in Perpignan in 2019, highlighted this as a strong signal from the prosecution. However, attorney Carine Durrieu Diebolt criticized the delayed response from the legal system, questioning how many women must come forward against a celebrity before legal actions are taken and applauding the courage shown by those who have spoken out.
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the Nanterre public prosecutor specified the facts leading to Bruel's charges:
- An attempted rape in 2010 in Brussels (Belgium).
- A rape in 2008 in Neuilly-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine).
- Sexual assault and harassment incidents in 2019 in Perpignan.
- Instances of sexual harassment in 2019 in Ajaccio.
Furthermore, Bruel has been designated as an assisted witness for other allegations, which include:
- An attempted rape between 2010 and 2011 in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
- A rape in 2012 in Dinard (Ille-et-Vilaine).
- A rape in 2015 in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (Vaucluse).
- Sexual harassment incidents in 2019 in Nyon (Switzerland).
As reported by lanouvellerepublique.fr.
