Rome: Citing local prosecutors, Italian news agencies reported Sunday that Oscar-winning Canadian director Paul Haggis was arrested on suspicion of serious sexual assault in southern Italy.
ANSA and AGI agencies reported that a statement from Brindisi prosecutors said the director and screenwriter were "seriously suspected of crimes of grievous sexual assault and grievous personal injury, crimes committed to prejudice a young foreign woman."
Through his Italian lawyer, Michele LaForgia, Haggis denied the allegations.
"Inquire as soon as possible, I am completely innocent," he said, according to the agencies, citing LaForgia.
Neither the prosecutor's office nor LaForgia responded to after-hours requests for more information on Sunday.
Haggis, 69, who wrote and produced the Oscar-winning film "Crash", is expected to play the lead role at the "Ellora Fest" film festival starting Tuesday in the city of Ostuni in Brindisi province.
Prosecutors said the alleged victim was living with Haggis before the festival. (AFP)