A PROBE into the prison “suicide” of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged modelling agent “pimp” is set to be reopened.
The investigation follows complaints by lawyers of Jean-Luc Brunel, who was found hanging in his cell in La Santé prison aged 74, in February 2022.
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The fashion agent’s lawyers said today that “major dysfunctions” of justice had taken place and demanded an “administrative investigation” into the scandal.
Brunel had been indicted in connection with his role in a global underage sex ring organised by his disgraced American multi-billionaire pal, Epstein.
The top agent was suspected of using his contacts in the fashion industry to provide victims to Epstein and his friends – earning him a reputation as the paedophile’s pimp.
He is alleged to have flown 12-year-old triplet sisters from a Paris housing estate to the US so they could be abused by Epstein as “a birthday present”.
Barrister Marianne Abgrall said: “Given the major dysfunctions of the entire criminal chain leading to the suicide of Jean-Luc Brunel [we have] contacted the Minister of Justice so that an inspection mission can be carried out by the Inspectorate General of Justice.”
Brunel was arrested in December 2020 by an anti-paedophilia police unit while trying to board a plane to Dakar in Senegal, telling detectives “I’m going on holiday”.
Others involved in the underage sex ring included Epstein’s ex-girlfriend, the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, 62, who is currently in prison in the US after being found guilty of sex trafficking.
Prince Andrew, 63, was, like his friend Maxwell, a regular visitor to Epstein’s £8million mansion flat in Paris, where many of the worst crimes against girls are said to have taken place.
A French judicial enquiry into Brunel’s conduct had opened in August 2019, when prosecutors heard allegations that both he and the late Queen’s second son shared a lover.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre had told lawyers she was employed as a “sex slave” when she was forced to sleep with the Duke after being trafficked to him at least three times when she was 17.
Prince Andrew – who denies any wrongdoing – has since agreed a civil settlement with Ms Giuffre, thought to be worth some £12million.
Ms Giuffre has also said she had “sexual relations with Brunel on several occasions”, between the ages of 16 and 19, according to legal papers filed in America and France.
The rape of a minor is punishable by up to 15 years in prison in France, while aggravated sexual harassment comes with a three-year prison sentence and a fine equivalent to around £40,000.
Brunel, who also denied any wrongdoing, was being held in custody until a criminal trial under the watch of six prison patrols when he managed to hang himself.
Brunel died in circumstances eerily similar to his paedo friend and long term business associate Epstein who also hung himself in prison while awaiting trial for sex crimes.
Epstein was found dead in New York on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial for a range of offences, including trafficking minors for sex, and multiple rapes.
Among his alleged victims, it is claimed in court documents, were the young triplets from Paris.
Brunel was the founder of MC2, the model agency – one that prosecutors believe was used as a cover for Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.
Brunel started his career as a model scout, and has worked with celebrities including Jerry Hall, Sharon Stone, and Monica Bellucci.
Evidence against Brunel came from a number of former models, who had waived their anonymity to make their allegations public.
It comes as bombshell court documents continue to be unsealed that reveal the names of Epstein’s inner circle and further details of his depraved sexual crimes as well as his victims
One victim is Sarah Ransome who claims she was raped three times in a single day by Epstein as she tried to flee his notorious “Paedo Island”.
And today she stood by allegations she made in 2016 that the convicted paedophile had recorded sex tapes of Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Richard Branson.
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