French film director Christophe Ruggia, 60, has been convicted of sexually assaulting actor Adèle Haenel when she was a minor. He has been sentenced to four years, with two years suspended, and will spend two years under house arrest with an electronic bracelet.
Ruggia has been ordered to pay €15,000 (£12,500) to Haenel in compensation and €20,000 for her psychological therapy following the abuse. The court stated that he exploited his influence over Haenel when she was between 12 and 15 years old.
Ruggia's lawyer plans to appeal the sentence. Haenel, now 35, received support from women's rights activists as she left the courtroom in Paris. During the trial, she accused Ruggia of molesting her during the filming of "Les Diables" in 2002 when she was 12, claims he denied.
Before the trial, crew members expressed discomfort with Ruggia's behavior on set. Media reports highlighted that Ruggia continued to see Haenel after filming under the pretext of lessons, during which he allegedly touched her inappropriately.
Haenel described feeling controlled and manipulated by Ruggia during her childhood, stating that no one protected her when asked to perform questionable acts in the name of art. Ruggia's defense included trying to "protect" Haenel during her early career days, a claim she vehemently rejected.
Furthermore, Haenel accused Ruggia of exploiting her and recounted her decision to speak out against his alleged abuse after watching the documentary "Leaving Neverland," which led her to realize the dynamics of control and manipulation she experienced.
In 2023, Haenel exited the French film industry to protest its tolerance towards sexual predators. The trial coincided with accusations against other prominent figures in the industry, including Gérard Depardieu, Benoît Jacquot, and Jacques Doillon. Director Céline Sciamma and actress Judith Godrèche were present in the courtroom for the verdict.