Street Fighter star Jean-Claude Van Damme charged for ties to trafficked women

Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme faces criminal charges in Romania over alleged links to a human trafficking case. Prosecutors claim he knowingly engaged with trafficked women at an event in Cannes.

In Short

• Romanian authorities file charges against Van Damme
• Complaint alleges involvement with trafficked women
• Incident reportedly occurred at Cannes event

Romanian authorities have reportedly filed criminal charges against We Die Young actor Jean-Claude Van Damme.

According to a CNN affiliate Antena 3 report, a complaint was filed with Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) against the Street Fighter actor.

The complaint alleges that Van Damme, 64, knowingly engaged in sexual relations with women who were trafficked by a criminal network led by Morel Bolea, Romanian businessman and modeling agency owner.

The alleged incident is said to have taken place in Cannes, where Van Damme reportedly received five Romanian women as a "gift," fully aware that they had been trafficked, as per the complaint obtained by the publication.

Attorney Adrian Cuculis, representing one of the alleged victims, stated that the women "were in a state of vulnerability, with the suspicion that they were exploited within the meaning of Article 182 of the Criminal Code."

The incident reportedly took place at an event organised by Van Damme in Cannes. One of the witnesses, who claims to have seen the incident unfold, provided testimony to prosecutors, leading DIICOT to launch a criminal investigation.

“Several Romanians who are currently under investigation for forming a criminal group and engaging in pimping allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women — photo models in Romania — for him to have sexual relations with. The person who received those benefits knew their condition,” Cuculis told the outlet in a translated statement.

Cuculis also told Antena 3 that the incident is part of a larger investigation into human trafficking and the trafficking of minors that began in 2020.

Jean-Claude Van Damme's representatives remained unavailable for comment. The actor is popular for his roles in films like Kickboxer, Double Impact, Street Fighter and Double Team.