Free. After a turbulent week in Mendoza, Argentina, both Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou were released from remand by the prosecutor's office early in the afternoon of Monday, August 12. They are both under investigation for the alleged rape of a 39-year-old Argentine woman with violence in a group early in the morning of July 7. The incident took place in a hotel room in Mendoza, following a test match between the French national rugby team and Argentina. The two French rugby internationals, who remain under investigation, were apprehended on July 8 and then placed under house arrest on July 17.
The conditions of judicial control that accompanied this precautionary measure in order to preserve the investigation are nevertheless maintained. "In particular, the confiscation of passports, a ban on leaving the country and a ban on contacting the complainant by any means whatsoever," said the notice issued by Deputy Prosecutor Gonzalo Nazar. The players will, therefore, have to remain in Argentina to ensure "their appearance, submission to proceedings and production of the missing evidence," he added.
A "long-awaited decision, which represents a major step toward judicial recognition of the innocence" of the two players, according to their lawyer in France, Antoine Vey. For the plaintiff's lawyer, Natacha Romano, on the contrary, it is a "completely biased decision which highlights the gray areas [in the plaintiff's statements], but at no point does this decision mention the gray areas or the contradictions which arose from the hearings of the defendants or the last witness [another French player]."
The previous week had been particularly intense for the Argentinian prosecutor's office. After hearing the complainant on August 6, the players made their statements to the investigator, Dario Nora, on August 8. For almost five hours, they took turns answering questions from the prosecutor and the plaintiff's advisers. The day was long, and translation slowed it down as neither of them spoke Spanish.
"They answered everyone's questions. They could have refused to make a statement. They could have answered only the prosecution's questions. No, they answered everyone. After five hours of deposition, they feel relieved," their lawyer, Rafael Cuneo Libarona, had said while leaving the hearings.
According to the terms of the Argentinian justice system, as defendants, the players were not obliged to make any statements, or even to tell the truth at these hearings. Their defense chose to let them explain themselves so that they could give their version of the facts, in the knowledge of the main witnesses and after a certain amount of evidence had been added to the file.
You have 54.78% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.