France, Feb. 3 -- A French court has convicted French film director ChristopheRuggia of sexually abusing actress Adele Haenelwhen she was underage. He will avoid prison as the court sentenced him to a two-year suspended term and two years under house arrest.Ruggia was also ordered to pay €15,000 to Haenel.

In one of France's first big MeToo cases, Haenel accused Ruggia of repeatedly touching her inappropriately when she was between 12 and 15-years-old, after they met while working on the movie The Devils in 2001.

Ruggia's lawyer, Fanny Colin, told reporters that her client maintained his innocence and would appeal the decision - the director has denied any wrongdoing since Haenel's first public accusations in 2019.

Haenel, 35, pu...