Argentine prosecutors have charged two French rugby players with aggravated sexual assault following a disturbing incident that occurred in the city of Mendoza. The players, identified as a 21-year-old and a 20-year-old, were accused of repeatedly raping a woman after taking her back to their hotel room and preventing her from leaving.
The alleged assault took place last Sunday after the French team's test match against the Argentine Pumas. The players, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou, were arrested in Buenos Aires and subsequently transferred to Mendoza for their first court appearance. They chose not to testify during the hearing.
The French Rugby Federation had previously stated that the players admitted to engaging in consensual sex with the alleged victim and denied any acts of violence. The court will soon decide on the defendants' request for house arrest.
The victim's lawyer provided a harrowing account of the assault, which has sparked outrage in France and raised concerns in Argentina about misogyny and sexual violence within the sports community. The woman alleges that she was subjected to violent, non-consensual sexual acts and was prevented from leaving the hotel room after meeting the players at a nightclub.
After managing to escape, the victim filed a police complaint and underwent physical examinations. The charges of aggravated sexual assault in Argentina carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of eight years.
Authorities have indicated that the defendants will be moved to another jail following the latest developments in the case.
