Oscar-winning Canadian director Paul
Haggis has been detained in southern Italy after a woman accused
him of sexually assaulting her.
The 69-year-old is accused of forcing the young, non-Italian
woman to have non-consensual sexual relations with her over two
days in the Puglia town of Ostuni.
The film-maker said via lawyer Michele Laforgia that he was
"totally innocent".
Haggis has been put under house arrest, reportedly either at a
hotel or a villa in the area.
He was in Italy to take part in the upcoming "Allora Fest" film
festival in Ostuni.
In a separate case, in 2018 a woman accused Haggis of raping her
in 2013 and he is facing a civil lawsuit over these allegations.
Three other women subsequently made sexual-misconduct
allegations against Haggis.
Haggis won Academy Awards for best screenplay and best picture
at the 2006 Oscars with Crash.
He also wrote the screenplay for another Oscar-wining film,
Million Dollar Baby.
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