The Argentine prosecutor’s office in Mendoza has recommended the return to France of Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, the two rugby players from the French XV accused of rape in Argentina for almost two months, it announced on Monday, September 2. The prosecutor’s office “authorized the exit from the country, so that they could travel to France”but their exit “concrete and effective” remains pending a hearing to be held on Tuesday, during which a judge of detentions and liberties is to rule, Martin Ahumada, spokesman for the provincial justice system, told journalists.
The prosecutor “authorized the departure from the country, but procedurally we have to wait for tomorrow’s hearing to make it concrete” or not, added Mr. Ahumada. This hearing, scheduled for Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Mendoza Judicial Center, must validate the results of psychological assessments, one of the last expected procedural acts. If there is an extension of the assessments, – which the plaintiff’s lawyers are requesting – “We will see whether they should be here or not. If there is no extension, the authorization to leave the country will be definitively granted.”he explained.
The agreement in principle given by the prosecution to the departure of players from Argentine territory is also “with rules”Mr. Ahumada said: “For example, they must present themselves if summoned to the Argentine consulate in France, must establish a real and virtual address, and must present themselves in Mendoza [ville située à 1 000 kilomètres de Buenos Aires] if asked”.
Released three weeks ago
Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou, both 21, are charged with aggravated gang rape on the night of 6 to 7 July against a 39-year-old Argentinian woman in a hotel room in Mendoza – 1,000 kilometres from the capital, Buenos Aires – where the French XV had just played a test match against Argentina.
The alleged victim, who had met the players at a nightclub and followed one of them to the hotel, says she was raped and assaulted in their room. The defendants acknowledge a sexual relationship, but claim it was consensual and deny any violence. The two French XV players were imprisoned after their arrest on July 8, 2024, then placed under house arrest on August 17 in Mendoza.
Considering that the “sufficient evidence has not been gathered” To justify the continued house arrest of the French rugby players, the Mendoza province prosecutor’s office decided to release them on Monday, August 12, while placing them under judicial supervision, requiring them to remain in Argentina while the investigation continues. The two players recovered their passports and left Mendoza for Buenos Aires. On Friday, their lawyers had asked the courts to lift the ban on leaving the country.
In a turning point in the case on Monday, the plaintiff’s lawyers filed a request Monday to disqualify the prosecutors in charge of the investigation for, according to them, “mental violence and lack of objectivity”A specific hearing is expected to examine this request for recusal on Monday, but it “does not affect the possible exit from the country” of the two players, stressed the spokesperson for provincial justice.