Greek ex-national theatre chief accused of rape
ATHENS: The former artistic director of Greece’s national theatre was arrested on Saturday over allegations of rape against minors, amid a belated #MeToo awakening.
Dimitris Lignadis, a renowned actor and director, faces accusations of serial rape and indecent assault, according to an arrest warrant.
Lignadis, 56, resigned on Feb 6 citing a ‘toxic climate of rumours, innuendo and leaks’. He is at the centre of numerous allegations of sexual abuse of minors, according to Greek media. He was detained a day after Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said she had asked the supreme court prosecutor to look into rumours circulating about him and publicly described him as ‘a dangerous person’.
“We strongly pressured Lignadis to say if he was the one named in the rumours... there was a steady denial that the rumours were about him,” Mendoni said. He deceived us, he deceived me,” she added.
Her comments angered Lignadis who shot back: “If I am a dangerous man in my personal life or in my work, I think we should wait for this to be decided by the history and by other institutions.”
Lignadis’ lawyer, Nikos Georgouleas, said on Saturday his client rejected all the accusations and that he was arrested after presenting himself to authorities.
A complaint was filed against Lignadis on Friday regarding the rape in 2010 of a 14-year old boy, according to ANA news agency.
The now 25-year-old plaintiff is the second person that has accused the director of rape, according to public ERT TV.
The prosecutor received another deposition late on Friday night, according to ANA.
This witness alleged that he was at the director’s home with friends under 18, where the director was plying them with alcohol and drugs and asking them to have group sex.
The Lignadis case has sparked a war of words between the government and opposition parties that have called for Mendoni’s resignation accusing her of foot dragging in the case. — AFP