- Jean-Claude Van Damme faces allegations of knowingly engaging with women trafficked by businessman Morel Bolea during a trip to Cannes. Romanian authorities have filed a criminal complaint against the actor.
- The accusations have resurfaced past controversies involving Van Damme, including his attendance at Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov’s birthday and a 2022 sexual assault allegation in Brussels.
- The Romanian investigation into Van Damme is part of a broader probe into organized crime and exploitation, with international coordination likely needed to locate the women involved.
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Jean-Claude Van Damme is facing disturbing new allegations. The action star is accused of knowingly engaging with women who were victims of a human trafficking network.
According to Romanian news outlet Antena 3, a criminal complaint has been filed against the 64-year-old actor with the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT). The report alleged that Van Damme had sexual relations with five Romanian women during a trip to Cannes, France.
Allegations involve Romanian trafficking ring
The complaint alleged Van Damme knew the women were trafficked by businessman Morel Bolea, owner of a modeling agency. Romanian authorities said Bolea operated the trafficking network and arranged for the women to be presented to Van Damme as a “gift.”
The attorney representing the case, Adrian Cuculis, said the women “were in a state of vulnerability, with the suspicion that they were exploited within the meaning of Article 182 of the Criminal Code.”
The woman who filed the complaint wasn’t among the five allegedly sent to Van Damme. She claimed she was among eight women brought to Cannes who were falsely promised work as models for the Cannes Film Festival.
However, when they arrived, they realized it wasn’t for the prestigious event. Instead, they were taken to a much smaller party, where she said the manager who brought them directed five of the women toward Van Damme.
Van Damme’s past controversies resurface
The Jean-Claude Van Damme human trafficking allegations resurfaced additional controversies involving the Belgian actor.
In 2011, Van Damme attended the birthday celebration of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov. According to the BBC, Kadyrov has been accused of serious human rights violations, including abductions and political violence. Van Damme reportedly expressed admiration for the leader during a speech at the event.
Additionally, in 2022, Van Damme was accused of sexually assaulting a 33-year-old woman at a champagne bar in Brussels. The woman said he flirted with her, made inappropriate advances and pushed her into a bathroom. She managed to escape. The actor denied the allegations, and there have been no public updates on the investigation since then.
What’s next in the case?
The next steps in the Romanian case may hinge on whether investigators can locate the five women named in the complaint. They are not currently believed to reside in the area where the filing took place.
Van Damme’s trafficking allegations tie into a larger probe of exploitation and organized crime in the region. As the case continues to unfold, legal experts expect further international coordination may be necessary to move the investigation forward.