‘Found Guilty!’ French Film director Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting Adéle

A French court on Monday found film director Christophe Ruggia guilty of sexually assaulting actress Adèle Haenel when she was between 12 and 15 in the early 2000s.

Ruggia was sentenced to two years under house arrest with an electronic bracelet, plus a two-year suspended sentence, in what is seen as a #MeToo landmark trial in France.

The court ruled that Ruggia “took advantage of the dominant position” he had over Haenel at the time.

“During quasi-weekly meetings at your home for over three years, you had sexualised gestures and attitudes,” as Haenel was “gradually isolated” from her loved ones, the court said in a statement.

But Ruggia, who is now 60 years old, denied any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Haenel, now 35, was the first top actor in France to accuse the film industry of turning a blind eye to sexual abuse after the #MeToo movement broke out.

In 2019, Haenel accused Ruggia of having repeatedly touched her inappropriately during and after the filming of the movie Les Diables [The Devils] in the early 2000s.

She appeared relieved, breathing deeply, as Monday’s verdict was being announced.

Haenel was applauded by some women’s rights activists as she left the courtroom.