French singer Patrick Bruel faces rape charges

One of France's best-known showbusiness stars, Patrick Bruel, has been placed under judicial investigation on several counts of rape and sexual abuse, in the latest fallout from the Me Too movement.

After two days in custody in the western Paris suburb of Nanterre, the 67-year-old singer and actor went before a panel of four judges on Wednesday evening.

They confirmed the state prosecutor's request that Bruel be placed under investigation in several cases of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault and harassment. A judge is deciding whether to keep him in custody.

Being placed under investigation means that an examining magistrate will now look more deeply into the charges against Bruel, whose lawyers will have access to the prosecution file.

Under French law, rape is defined as "any non-consensual act of penetration".

The case against Bruel comes at a time of heightened sensitivity in France about judicial treatment of sex offences, after the murder of an 11 year-old girl called Lyhanna, whose suspected killer had been the object of several prior denunciations for abuse.

Alongside actor Gérard Depardieu, Bruel is the most celebrated French figure to be targeted by accusations of sexual abuse.

Depardieu, 77, was given a suspended sentence last year for sexual assault on a film set, and he has appealed against the conviction.