Fresh twist in case against Les Bleus duo facing rape charges in Argentina
France duo Hugo Auradou (lock) and Oscar Jegou (flanker).
The two French rugby players who have been held for almost two months in Argentina, after being accused of raping a woman, have been allowed to leave the South American country.
A court hearing in Mendoza – a city situated 1,000 kilometres west of Buenos Aires – gave permission for lock Auradou and flanker Jegou, who are both 21, to return to France and the plaintiff’s attorneys did not oppose a prosecution recommendation to authorise the duo to depart Argentina.
That meant Auradou and Jegou can “leave the country from this moment,” the court said via a press release.
The duo are facing charges of raping a woman after Les Bleus clinched a 28-13 victory over Argentina in Mendoza in July.
Serious allegations
The 39-year-old woman alleges that Auradou and Jegou raped her repeatedly and beat her in a hotel room in the city after the match.
Auradou and Jegou denied the rape allegations and said they had consensual sex with their accuser.
Les Bleus tour in turmoil after duo arrested for alleged sexual assault
They were initially in custody in a Mendoza prison, before being released on house arrest and were then allowed to return to Buenos Aires last week pending a request for charges to be dismissed against them.
However, a date for that hearing has not been set yet.
“They can leave,” Martin Ahumada, who is the provincial justice spokesman, told AFP.
The ruling allowing the players to depart for France requires them to “appear if they are summoned to the Argentine consulate in France,” to appear virtually “as often as required,” or even to return “to appear in Mendoza if requested.”
French Rugby Federation statement
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) issued a statement on the matter which read: “The French Rugby Federation welcomes with satisfaction the decision of the Argentinian public prosecutor’s office authorising the return to France, to their loved ones and their clubs, of its two internationals Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou.
“As it has expressed since the first day, the French Rugby Federation wanted to listen to the complainant, but also to constantly remind the two players of the presumption of innocence, who have always proclaimed their innocence, while trusting the Argentine justice system.
“Today’s decision is a further step towards the judicial truth of the facts. The FFR, in close collaboration with the Pau and La Rochelle clubs, will continue to support the players, and will not comment further on the ongoing procedure.”
The crime of aggravated sexual assault carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years in Argentina.
READ MORE: France duo facing sexual assault charges in Argentina
