Anna Chapman's Restaurateur Boyfriend Faces Rape Accusation
NEW YORK (CBS) While suspected Russian spy Anna Chapman sits in jail while charged with spying for Russia, her wealthy restaurateur boyfriend, Michel Bittan, could be facing a civil suit stemming from an alleged sexual assault in 2008, according to a report.
A New Jersey mother of two claims that in May 2008 Bittan raped and sodomized her in his Englewood, N.J. mansion after coaxing her there on the pretense that he would help her launch an internet business, according to the New York Daily News.
The woman told the paper that Bittan was giving her a tour of his house when he pushed her onto a bed and attacked her from behind. "I heard his pants drop," the woman told the Daily News.
No charges were filed against Bittan, but the woman claims she went to her doctor after the attack and he confirmed that she had been raped, sodomized and had contracted herpes from the encounter. The woman told the News that she filed a report with the Englewood police.
The woman, whose name was not given by the paper, then filed a civil suit against Bittan in July 2009 claiming that the attack left her with permanent physical and mental injuries. Bittan's lawyer says the charges are worthless and said that she only filed the civil suit after Bittan refused to back her business, according to the Daily News.
"This matter was looked into by the prosecutor's office more than two years ago," Bittan's lawyer, Barry Knopf said.
Bittan met the red-haired alleged spy a little over a year ago at a Russian bar, Mari Vanna, and was reportedly still dating her when she was arrested and charged with being a Russian spy.
Complete coverage of Anna Chapman on Crimesider.
