Patrick Bruel affair: the artist placed in police custody after accusations of rape and sexual violence

Just three weeks after the filing of a complaint by Flavie Flament having shed light on all the procedures targeting Patrick Bruel, the singer was placed in police custody this Monday morning, confirming sources indicate to the Figaroconfirming information from Franceinfo. He is currently being heard in the premises of the 1st district of the judicial police in Paris.

Investigators are questioning him about the denunciations of three women for rapes or sexual assaults allegedly committed in 1997, 2000 and 2001, the Nanterre prosecutor’s office said in a press release. The latter specifies that the Saint-Malo prosecutor relinquished responsibility for his benefit on May 29, 2026 “rape alleged against Patrick Bruel and committed in Dinard in 2012 against a woman aged 32 at the time of the events”.

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It will also be a question during his custody of“an official denunciation from the Belgian authorities on June 1, 2026 and relating to acts of rape and sexual assault committed in 2010 in Brussels, attributed to Patrick Bruel by a woman then aged 40”.

The “relief” of the plaintiffs

The singer “had for several weeks made it known that he was at the disposal of justice, to finally be able to respond within the framework of the legal procedure, before the competent authority. He will answer all the investigators’ questions and transmit all the elements necessary to demonstrate his innocence. declare to Figaro his lawyers Me Christophe Ingrain, Céline Lasek and Fanny Collin.

Me Jade Dousselin, the lawyer for the plaintiff Daniela Elstner, expresses her relief. “It is not our place to comment on such a measure while it is in progress. We are waiting for the follow-up that will be given to him even if it is obviously a great relief.” And to add: “we can also only salute the great speed of the Paris and Nanterre prosecutors’ offices in handling the complaint since it was filed on March 12.»

Me Myriam Guedj Benayoum represents a complainant whose complaint was closed in November 2022, before the Nanterre public prosecutor’s office reopened the investigation last month. Contacted by us, she welcomes this progress. “My client is aware that the number of victims helped speed up the process. For months, she had been asking for justice to be done peacefully, for both prosecution and defence. At the time, they rather did it for the defense, because it was Mr Bruel», laments the lawyer.

Up to 48 hours of police custody

This police custody can last up to 48 hours. At the end of this, he could be brought before a judge for indictment or released without prosecution. In total, 13 women denounce the actions of the star. The singer and actor is currently the target of at least four investigations for rape in France and a judicial investigation for sexual assault in Belgium.

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In the legal and media turmoil, the 67-year-old French star announced the cancellation of most of his next tour, which was to begin in mid-June in Paris before taking him to festivals. He also chose to step aside from the upcoming Enfoirés charity shows, of which he had not missed any edition since 1993.