ISTANBUL

A Paris court on Tuesday convicted French actor Gerard Depardieu of sexual assault and handed him an 18-month suspended prison sentence over incidents that occurred during the 2021 filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).

French broadcaster BFMTV reported that the 76-year-old actor was found guilty of groping a 54-year-old set dresser, Amelie, on the set. According to her testimony, Depardieu groped the set dresser while making sexually explicit remarks.

A 34-year-old assistant director also accused him of similar misconduct during the same shoot.

Depardieu denied all charges during his trial in March, stating: "I don’t see why I would have fun groping a woman, her buttocks, her breasts. I’m not a metro frotteur."

However, his credibility was questioned when he admitted in court to having touched Amelie, despite previously denying any physical contact during the investigation.

In its ruling, the Paris Judicial Court sentenced the actor to 18 months in prison, suspended, with a three-year probationary period.

The court also ordered Depardieu to pay compensation to the victims and undergo psychological treatment. He will be ineligible to hold certain positions for two years and must register as a sex offender.

Prosecutors had described the assaults as "intentional" and called for penalties that reflect the seriousness of the offenses.

The proceedings were tense, with Depardieu’s legal team accused of using inflammatory language and attempting to discredit the plaintiffs.

His lawyer, Jeremie Assous, described the women as "liars," "venal," and "hysterical," prompting public backlash and a wave of criticism in the French press.

The plaintiffs’ lawyers also sought €10,000 ($10,750) in damages for "secondary victimization," citing the psychological toll caused by the handling of their case within the judicial system.