Canadian screenwriter-director Paul Haggis was taken into custody in Ostuni, Southern Italy, on Sunday in connection with allegations of sexual assault and aggravation of injury inflicted on an anonymous woman. 

According to local media reports and a statement by prosecutors in the city of Brindisi, the Oscar-winning screenwriter is “seriously suspected of the crimes of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated personal injury, crimes committed to the prejudice of a young foreign woman.”

Haggis allegedly forced a woman to perform sexual intercourse with him during the two days he spent in Ostuni, where he was scheduled to conduct master classes at the Allora Fest, a film event organized by Spanish art critic Sol Costales Doulton and Italian journalist Silvia Bizio.

Haggis’ attorney, Priya Chaudhry released a statement, claiming that the 69-year-old is “totally innocent.”

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“Under Italian Law, I cannot discuss the evidence,” she said, according to a report by Variety. 

“That said, I am confident that all allegations will be dismissed against Mr. Haggis. He is totally innocent and willing to fully cooperate with the authorities so the truth comes out quickly,” Chaudhry added.

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On the other hand, the Allora Fest also released a statement, saying that organizers have “learned with dismay and shock the news that Paul Haggis is in custody for alleged violence.”

According to the statement, the directors of the festival have “proceeded to remove any participation of the director from the event.”

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 “At the same time, they express full solidarity with the woman involved,” the statement read.

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Paul Haggis wrote two Oscar-winning films- ‘Million Dollar Baby’ and ‘Crash’. In 2018, he was sued by publicist Haleigh Breest, who accused him of raping her after a film premiere in 2013. The suit resulted in three more women accusing Haggis of sexual misconduct.