A French court on Monday found film director Christophe Ruggia guilty of sexually assaulting actress Adèle Haenel between the ages of 12 and 15 in the early 2000s.
Ruggia, 60, was sentenced to two years of house arrest with an electronic bracelet and an additional two-year suspended sentence in what has been described as a landmark #MeToo case in France.
The court ruled that Ruggia “took advantage of the dominant position” he held over Haenel, subjecting her to “sexualised gestures and attitudes” during frequent meetings at his home over a three-year period. It further stated that Haenel was “gradually isolated” from her loved ones as a result of the abuse.
Despite the verdict, Ruggia has denied any wrongdoing.
Haenel, now 35, was the first high-profile French actress to speak out against the film industry’s culture of silence on sexual abuse following the rise of the #MeToo movement. In 2019, she accused Ruggia of repeatedly touching her inappropriately during and after the filming of Les Diables (The Devils) in the early 2000s.
As the court delivered its verdict, Haenel was seen taking deep breaths, appearing relieved. She was later applauded by women’s rights activists as she exited the courtroom.