French singer Patrick Bruel placed in police custody

Actor Patrick Bruel poses on the red carpet for the movie 'Promises' at the 16th edition of the Rome Film Fest in Rome, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

PARIS -- French singer and actor Patrick Bruel has been placed in police custody in connection with an investigation into sexual assault allegations, the Nanterre prosecution office said on Monday.

Bruel, one of France’s best-selling recording artists, has publicly denied wrongdoing. He faces accusations by several women of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and harassment, stretching from 1997 to 2012 in France and Belgium, the prosecution office said.

“Patrick Bruel is being questioned in relation to all these incidents, which concern at this point 13 victims,” the prosecution office said.

Authorities are able to keep Bruel in custody for 24 hours, renewable once.

“I have never forced a woman. I have never drugged, manipulated or looked for anyone to submit,” Bruel wrote in a social media post last month.

Reporting by Leo Marchandon, Editing by Makini Brice and Timothy Heritage, Reuters