Herve Temime, counsel for Depardieu, told AFP that he “was not informed” of the reopening of the investigation, and called it a “non-event” and “automatic decision” based on French law.
Depardieu, 72, was accused of raping a 22-year-old actor in his Paris home in 2018, an allegation Depardieu has denied.
On Tuesday (23 February), AFP reported learning of the charges from a judicial source close to the case. Depardieu’s lawyer, Herve Temime, told AFP that the actor, who is currently free but under judicial supervision, “completely rejects the accusations”.
After nine months of investigation, French prosecutors dropped the case due to lack of evidence.