Abuse Allegations Against French Director: Ruggia Must Face Trial

The French director Christophe Ruggia must face trial due to abuse allegations made by actress Adèle Haenel. The trial against Ruggia is set to take place on December 9 and 10 in Paris, according to court sources on Saturday. Haenel accuses the filmmaker, who is about 20 years older, of repeatedly abusing her when she was a minor.

The now 34-year-old was the most well-known French actress to speak about abuse in the film industry when the allegations came to light in 2019. The investigating judge cited two particularly serious circumstances as reasons for bringing Ruggia to trial: first, that Haenel was a minor at the time, and second, that the director held a position of power.

According to the available documents, the case involves allegations from 2001 to 2004, during which Haenel was 12 to 15 years old and Ruggia was 36 to 39. The actress, who shot her first film with the director at the age of 12 in 2002, visited Ruggia at his home every Saturday afternoon during that period.

On these occasions, he allegedly "systematically" touched Haenel "in a sexual manner" in the intimate area and on the chest, according to the prosecutor. Additional allegations by Haenel of assaults during film festivals are not being addressed in this trial.

Haenel initially hesitated to press charges. After the prosecutor's office launched an investigation in 2019, she decided to pursue legal action. The actress also repeatedly criticized the French film industry's "leniency" towards sexual offenders.

In January 2020, Ruggia was officially charged and placed under judicial supervision. He admitted to "mistakes" but denied the abuse. His lawyers did not comment on the decision to open the trial.