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Attorney: De Niro not involved in sex ring

February 11, 1998
Web posted at: 7:56 p.m. EST (0056 GMT)

PARIS (CNN) -- Actor Robert De Niro's attorney on Wednesday denied his client's involvement in an international prostitution ring. The actor was detained Tuesday for questioning in the matter, then released after nine hours. No charges were filed against him.

De Niro had been detained for six hours at the Palais de Justice, then questioned for three more hours by Paris judge Frederic N'Guyen about an alleged international prostitution ring that was broken up a year ago by French authorities.

De Niro's name allegedly appeared in an address book seized in the course of the probe, according to police sources.

Under French law, prostitution is not a crime, but third parties making financial gain from such activity is.

De Niro, 54, is not the only celebrity to have been associated with this case. A former Swedish fashion model, a Polish tennis star, and a French film producer have also been implicated.

Keijman
Georges Keijman, De Niro's attorney  

De Niro's attorney, Georges Kiejman, told reporters that De Niro knows a lot of beautiful women, and agreed it was entirely possible that his name appeared in an address book.

In fact, Kiejman added, De Niro told the judge he had met three of the women believed to be part of the prostitution racket. The actor said he had "shaken hands" with two of the women. His lawyer refused to comment on the nature of De Niro's relationship with the third.

"I can categorically state, indeed Mr. De Niro has authorized me to do so, that he has never in his life ever paid to have any woman, including these three in question," he said.

But Kiejman also told reporters that De Niro was taking legal action against the judge who is heading the investigation, saying that the star's name is a "jewel" to anyone looking for free publicity.

"The judge, in my opinion, broke the law twice concerning my client," Kiejman said. "Firstly I believe it was the judge himself that authorized De Niro's name to be leaked in connection with the inquiry, and secondly, my client never received a summons and was therefore illegally detained."

Kiejman said De Niro was exasperated by his brush with the law. "He is a little angry," he said. "He wants to forget but not yet to forgive!"

Kiejman said DeNiro asked that a translator be present, that police talk with him during the afternoon because of the movie shooting schedule, and that no statement be made to the media.

None of the requests were honored, Kiejman said.

The investigating judge has shown no sign that he plans to wrap up the months-old investigation any time soon.

Meanwhile, De Niro remains in Paris to complete filming of "Ronin," a film directed by John Frankenheimer.

CNN Paris Bureau Chief Peter Humi contributed to this report

 
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