The 69-year-old Canadian-born director and screenwriter, who received two Oscars for the 2004 crime drama “Crash,” was within the nation to attend a movie competition that begins Tuesday in Ostuni, a vacationer city within the southern Italian area of Puglia.
Public prosecutors within the close by city of Brindisi mentioned in a press release Sunday that they issued a warrant for the detention of a “70-year-old” Canadian man recognized as “P.H.,” who was staying in Ostuni.
They mentioned: “The person is severely suspected of the crimes of aggravated sexual violence and aggravated private harm, crimes dedicated to the detriment of a younger overseas girl.”
Haggis’ US-based legal professional, Priya Chaudhry, informed CNN in an e-mail on Monday that she was “assured that every one allegations can be dismissed in opposition to Mr. Haggis,” whereas noting that Italian legislation prevents her from discussing the proof.
She added: “He’s completely harmless, and keen to totally cooperate with the authorities so the reality comes out shortly.”
Haggis’ lawyer in Italy, Michele Laforgia, mentioned in a press assertion Sunday: “Paul Haggis is at present in Ostuni, at his house, below ‘detention’ by order of the Public Prosecutor of Brindisi. We’re ready to be summoned by the Choose for Preliminary Investigations for the custody interrogation and to render our model of the information.”
He added: “Haggis instantly declared that he was utterly harmless and that he hopes for the utmost velocity of all the mandatory investigations to make clear the matter. Clearly we can not declare something additional nor give particulars of the accusations till we be taught totally the acts of the authorized case behind the cautionary measure and now we have been heard by the judicial authorities.”
Haggis is an acclaimed director, producer and screenwriter. His movie credit embrace “Crash,” which earned him Oscars for greatest image and greatest unique screenplay on the 2006 Academy Awards, and the screenplays for the multi-Oscar-winning “Million Greenback Child” in addition to the James Bond movie “Quantum of Solace.”
