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Fifth Element director Luc Besson accused of sexual assault by three more women

Luc Besson is under investigation over a rape allegation: AFP/Getty
Luc Besson is under investigation over a rape allegation: AFP/Getty

French filmmaker Luc Besson has been accused by several more women of sexual harassment.

Police initially launched an investigation into the Leon director earlier this year after actress Sand Van Roy accused him of rape.

Online news outlet Mediapart reports that three other women have since come forward with alleged accounts of sexually inappropriate behaviour by Besson

“When I saw the complaint from Sand Van Roy, my legs trembled,” said an unnamed casting director who worked with Besson several times between 2000 and 2005. The 49-year-old reportedly wrote to the Paris public prosecutor claiming she was the victim of “sexual assault”.

Speaking to the publication, she detailed Besson’s alleged behaviour: “Frequently, Luc Besson asked me, in the presence of others, to give him a blowjob, which I systematically refused.”

She goes on to claim: “Whenever we took the lift together, he kissed me by force, putting his tongue in his mouth, and although I pushed him away, he took me in his arms and touched my breasts and buttocks.”

Another woman to have come forward was a former EuropaCorp employee – the studio started by Besson – who alleges he made unwanted ”sexual advances”.

“He listened when you said ‘no’ but you could never relax your guard because he would try again. Each time, he would try to push things further,” she told the publication.

An unnamed actress also came forward, saying that when she initially met Besson in Los Angeles, the director has been “charming”. However, when they met in Paris months later, Besson allegedly tried to force himself on her and she had to “get on all fours” to escape.

Besson – best known for the movies Fifth Element and Lucy – has vehemently denied all allegations against him, the director’s lawyers added that Besson would not answer any questions due to the ongoing investigation. The lawyer’s previously called Van Roy’s allegations “fantasist accusations”.

The 59-year-old’s company EuropaCorp has reportedly been struggling since the release of last year’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, which was a box-office bomb.

The Independent has contacted Besson’s representatives for further comment.