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NEW YORK. — Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein turned himself in to New York City detectives and appeared in court yesterday on charges of rape and a sex crime. Weinstein posted a $1 million cash bail nearly eight months after his career imploded under bombshell accusations that triggered the #MeToo movement.

The former mogul – once the toast of Hollywood and whose films won scores of Oscars – grinned as he was escorted into a Manhattan court in handcuffs to face the first criminal charges posted against him.

Standing alongside his defence attorney, Weinstein looked glum during a brief arraignment, agreeing to post bail at $1 million cash, surrender his passport and be fitted with a GPS monitoring device.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said he was charged with rape in the first and third degrees, stemming from an attack on a woman in 2013, and a criminal sex act against another woman in 2004. Neither victim was named.

“Today’s charges reflect significant progress in this active, ongoing investigation,” said District Attorney Cyrus Vance, thanking “brave survivors” for coming forward and urging others to call a sex crimes hotline.

They are the first criminal charges against the twice-married, shamed former titan, who already faces a slew of civil lawsuits, is reportedly under federal investigation and whose former studio has filed for bankruptcy.

Defence attorney Ben Brafman told reporters, “We intend to move very quickly to dismiss these charges”. “Bad behaviour is not on trial,” he added. “Mr Weinstein did not invent the casting couch in Hollywood.”

The 66-year-old former studio boss surrendered to police shortly before 7:30 am (1130 GMT) wearing a white shirt, pale blue sweater and dark blazer, dozens of television cameras and photographers mobbing the street outside.

He stepped out of a black SUV and walked into the station, clutching several books, among them what appeared to be the Rodgers and Hammerstein biography “Something Wonderful” and a book on late director Elia Kazan.

New York police said he was “arrested, processed and charged with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct.”
After having his mugshots and fingerprints taken, he was escorted out in handcuffs, again grinning, and driven to court in the back of a smart SUV.

Out on bail, Weinstein’s travel will be restricted to New York and the neighbouring state of Connecticut, and he agreed to surrender his passport. The case has been adjourned until July 30.

The district attorney and police have been investigating Weinstein for months, under growing pressure from Hollywood actresses to bring the disgraced producer to justice. — AFP/New York Times/HR