Jean-Claude Van Damme facing serious allegations with 5 trafficked Romanian women

Jean-Claude Van Damme is reportedly facing serious legal scrutiny in Romania following allegations that he knowingly had sexual relations with women trafficked by an organized criminal network.

The martial arts star, who became a household name through action films like Street Fighter and Double Impact, has been named in a criminal complaint submitted to Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), according to local outlet Antena 3 CNN.

The complaint alleges that Van Damme received five Romanian women as a “gift” from traffickers during an event in Cannes, France.

The women, described as photo models in Romania, were allegedly exploited and offered to the actor for sex, with reports suggesting he was aware of their vulnerable status.

Adrian Cuculis, a lawyer representing one of the alleged victims, told Antena 3 that “several Romanians who are currently being investigated for forming a criminal group and pimping” offered the women to Van Damme.

He added, “The person who received those benefits knew their condition,” citing Romania’s legal definitions of exploitation under Article 182 of the Criminal Code.

DIICOT reportedly launched the investigation after a witness came forward with claims about the incident, which is said to have occurred at a private event linked to Van Damme in Cannes.

The case is part of a wider probe into human trafficking and the exploitation of minors, ongoing since 2020.

As the reported offence took place in France, Antena 3 notes that approval from the country’s High Court of Cassation would be required before any of the identified suspects, including Van Damme, can be summoned to Romania to provide testimony.

Van Damme, now 64, enjoyed peak fame in the late ‘80s and ‘90s with roles in Kickboxer, Universal Soldier, Timecop, and Sudden Death. 

He later returned to the spotlight in 2012’s The Expendables 2 and voiced a character in Minions: The Rise of Gru.