The Romanian Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) has filed criminal charges against actor Jean-Claude Van Damme for allegedly having sexual relations with Romanian women who were trafficked by Morel Bolea's group, CNN reported. 

The acts allegedly took place in Cannes and the actor received the Romanian women as a "gift" and knew they were victims of a network of traffickers. It all came to light after one of the trafficked women told prosecutors what she had experienced. 

The actor is accused of having sexual relations with 5 Romanian women "who were in a state of vulnerability, with the suspicion that they were exploited within the meaning of Article 182 of the Criminal Code," said lawyer Adrian Koukoulis.  

The criminal case was initiated by DIICOT after one of the women who witnessed what happened in Cannes revealed all. 

It is alleged that the action star knew that the Romanian women were victims of a network of traffickers. DIICOT suspects that it is a network of trafficking of minors and people led by Morel Bolea.

"We are discussing a scandalous case that is not new to the prosecution services in Romania. From the testimony given in the case of trafficking of minors and human trafficking, which began with investigations in 2020, one of the victims and the same witness who mentioned Casta Morelli and the so-called guru from Iasi, who allegedly committed sexual abuse against dozens of minors, even when they were presented as photomodels.

Well, one of them told the prosecutors in Iași how at some point in Cannes, at an event organized by Jean-Claude Van Damme, several Romanians, who are currently under investigation for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women, photomodels in Romania, to have sexual relations with them. The person who received these benefits knew their condition. From the testimony of the witnesses, it is quite clear that Jean-Claude Van Damme knew that these people were being exploited," said lawyer Adrian Koukoulis. 

The Prosecutor General's Office of the Supreme Court of Cassation must authorise the opening of criminal proceedings as the acts are alleged to have been committed in Caen. For now, however, the file is at DIICOT. In the first stage, the perpetrators must be identified and summoned to Romania to give evidence. 

Jean-Claude Van Damme, 65, is a Belgian-born martial arts master who achieved success in Hollywood as an action actor. He has starred in more than 80 films in his nearly 50-year career. | BGNES