Weinstein indicted for sex crimes against third woman

Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein, seen here arriving at court in Manhattan on Jun 5, 2018, saw his career implode in a blaze of accusations of sexual misconduct. (AFP/EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ)

The 66-year-old's career imploded last October in a blaze of accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse from dozens of women that triggered a major reckoning about harassment in the workplace and the global #MeToo movement.

Currently out on a US$1 million bail, the father of five in June pleaded not guilty for allegedly raping one woman at a Manhattan hotel in 2013 and forcing another to perform oral sex on him in 2004.

On Monday, prosecutors announced that a New York grand jury had returned an additional count of criminal sexual act in the first degree, and two counts of predatory sexual assault against Weinstein for allegedly forcing a third woman into oral sex on July 10, 2006.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said Weinstein had now been indicted "on some of the most serious sexual offenses" under New York penal law.

"This indictment is the result of the extraordinary courage exhibited by the survivors," he added, urging others who may have experienced "predatory abuse" at the hands of Weinstein to also come forward.

The new charges bring to six the number of counts against Weinstein. The latest charges are punishable by a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, Vance added.

Weinstein has steadfastly denied all accusations of non-consensual sex. His lawyer, celebrated criminal defence attorney Ben Brafman, was not immediately reachable for comment.

NEARLY 100 ACCUSERS

The onetime Tinseltown powerbroker whose films earned dozens of Oscars, was charged with rape and another sex crime in May, nearly eight months after the first public allegations against him surfaced.

None of the three women have been named, but according to Brafman, the 2013 rape complaint comes from a woman who had a 10-year affair with Weinstein.

Former actress Lucia Evans, who told The New Yorker that Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex, is thought to be the woman involved in the 2004 case.

Overall nearly 100 women have come forward publicly to say they were harassed or sexually abused by Weinstein over a period of more than two decades.

Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie are among more than two dozen actresses who say they were sexually harassed by the producer. Several, including Asia Argento and Rose McGowan, say they were raped.

The #MeToo movement has seen people around the world come forward with cases of sexual mistreatment, leading to the downfall of powerful men across industries, including Oscar winner Kevin Spacey.

Weinstein has reportedly spent months in treatment for sex addiction and has been left by his fashion designer wife, Georgina Chapman.

He remains on bail, forced to wear a GPS monitoring device, and his travel restricted to the states of New York and Connecticut. In addition is he facing a slew of civil lawsuits and his former studio has filed for bankruptcy.