The Belgian actor Jean-Claude Van Damme 64, broke the silence on the accusations that it would have sexually related with women victims of a network of human trafficking .
The star, known for roles in action films such as “The Great White Dragon” (1988), is at the center of an investigation that investigates reports of sexual exploitation and international trafficking. The criminal network would be led by businessman Morel Bolea, owner of a modeling agency in Romania.
According to the Eastern European Prosecutor’s Office, five young people – described as photographic models would have been “offered” to the actor during an event in Cannes, France, in a context that configures sexual exploitation.
Lawyer Adrian Cuculis, who represents one of the potential victims, said the group of women “was vulnerable, suspected of being exploited pursuant to article 182 of the Penal Code”, referring to the Romanian legislation on human trafficking.
“Several Romanians who are currently being investigated for criminal networking and sexual exploitation would have offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women to have sex with them. The person who received this benefit knew their condition,” the lawyer told the magazine. People.
The case is part of a higher scale investigation on international people trafficking, which began by the Public Prosecutor of Romania in 2020. The investigation involves the direction of investigation of organized crime and terrorism (Diicot). An eyewitness would have giving testimony to the prosecution, motivating the opening of the inquiry.
As the incidents would have occurred in French territory, the Romania court awaits authorization from the French Court to follow up on criminal proceedings. After authorization, the suspects may be summoned to give testimony on Romanian soil.
Through his agent, Patrick Goavec, Van Damme vehemently denied any involvement with the facts conveyed in the press.
“We learn of articles that claim a supposed case in cannes involving Mr. Jean-Claude Van Damme. The reported facts are both grotesque and nonexistent. Mr. Van Damme does not want to comment or feed this rumor, which is as absurd as unfounded,” said the note sent to People magazine.
Van Damme has been involved in controversy in the past, such as the famous rivalry with Steven Seagal in the 1990s. At the time, the two actors exchanged public barbs about their martial skills, and the Belgian even challenged the American to a fight in a party offered by actor Sylvester Stallone. Today, however, the actor guarantees that the impasse is a thing of the past.
“I have no problem with Steven. When you are young, you want to be the macho. If I saw him today, I would have no problem,” he told the Daily Mail.
Van Damme’s defense did not say whether he will provide formal clarifications to the Romanian or French authorities, nor is it intended to call the courts against the vehicles that disclosed the accusations.
This content was originally published in Jean-Claude Van Damme denies involvement in human trafficking: “grotesque” on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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