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Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis has been arrested in southern Italy on suspicion of aggravated sexual assault, Italian news agencies have reported.
Brindisi prosecutors said he was also accused of "aggravated personal injury and crimes committed to the prejudice of a young foreign woman".
The ANSA and AGI agencies also report Mr Haggis has denied the allegations via his lawyer, Michele Laforgia.
The BBC has contacted Mr Haggis's representatives and the prosecutors.
"Make enquiries as soon as possible, I am totally innocent," the Canadian filmmaker said, according to the agencies, who quoted Laforgia.
Another lawyer representing Mr Haggis, Priya Chaudhry, issued a statement to various outlets including Variety, saying the director was"totally innocent".
...
He's a former Scientologist who became a critic of the organisation and has faced similar allegations in the past.
The Apostate: Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology (article by a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, Lawrence Wright, who has published a book about Scientology "Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief")
Lawrence Wright has tweeted: "I have no idea if Paul Haggis is innocent. He predicted, in my article in The New Yorker, one day "you're going to read something about me in a scandal that looks like it has nothing to do with the church." Who knows." twitter.com/lawrence_wright/status/1538703797702340608
Re:Film director Paul Haggis arrested over alleged sexual assault 1 Year, 10 Months ago
Let's keep an open mind here.
Hollywood is not called Hollyweird for nothing !
Sexual abuse in Scientology is something that happens in any cult or religion sects.
I still get junk mail and emails from Scientology but no one has ever knocked on my door or followed me with a camera. However they don't beef from ex-members.
However the JW's from the nearerst Kingdom Hall (25 miles away) knock on my door. I have invited some in for a cup of tea and a discussion why I am an atheist soon follows.
The chat with the Mormons was something else though they make Scientology sound sane.
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