French actor Gerard Depardieu has been charged with rape and sexual assault in a 2018 case, AFP reported, citing a judicial source.
The Oscar-nominated actor is accused of raping a young actress three years ago. It's only just been made public that he was charged back in December 2020 for the alleged assault, which is said to have taken place at his Paris apartment.
An initial investigation into the accusations against the 72-year-old actor was dropped in 2019 over lack of evidence. It was, however, reopened last summer, according to the AFP source.
Depardieu's lawyer, Herve Temime, told AFP that the actor "completely rejects the accusations."
According to the news agency, citing a source lose to the case, Depardieu is a friend of the alleged victim's family.
The young woman's lawyer, Elodie Tuaillon-Hibon, told AFP that she hoped her client's "private sphere will be respected."