On the evening of Monday, July 8th, French rugby players Oscar Jégou and Hugo Auradou were detained in Mendoza, Argentina, under allegations of “rape with violence” following the national team’s match against Argentina on July 6. As of the evening of July 10th, the whereabouts of the two players remained uncertain, and conflicting reports emerged from various local and French official sources. Eventually, it was revealed that their departure from Buenos Aires had been postponed, and they were expected to travel to Mendoza on July 11th.
In the absence of a formal indictment, the details of the initial investigation remain confidential. The reconstruction of the events is primarily based on the players’ statements to their relatives and the conflicting accounts provided by their respective legal representatives.
According to the alleged victim’s lawyer, Natacha Romano, the woman described a harrowing incident in the hotel room where she was with the two French players. The victim claimed that after meeting Auradou in the VIP lounge of a nightclub, she left with him in a cab around 5:30 am to join him for a drink at the hotel. There were two other passengers in the vehicle—a Frenchman and a woman whom the plaintiff was unable to identify. Upon reaching the hotel room, the woman alleged that the players immediately subjected her to physical and sexual violence, alleging that she was beaten, strangled, and raped multiple times. The accused players were said to have been involved in the violence and assaults, with Jégou reportedly arriving at the scene afterwards.
The victim managed to escape the ordeal once the two players fell asleep and left the hotel around 8:30 am. Later that day, she went to Mendoza’s Sexual Integrity Unit to provide her statement. The public prosecutor, Daniela Chaler, confirmed that the victim’s statement was exhaustive, and she underwent medical examination and received support following the incident.
As the case continues to unfold, the conflicting accounts and the gravity of the allegations have captured public attention and raised questions about the conduct of the accused players. The legal proceedings and the eventual court appearance of the players are eagerly anticipated as the investigation into this disturbing incident progresses.
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