Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme faces allegations of involvement with trafficked women

He added: “Several Romanians who are currently being investigated for forming a criminal group and pimping allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women – photo models in Romania – for him to have sexual relations with. The person who received those benefits knew their condition."

A woman who witnessed the alleged incident is said to have spoken with prosecutors, prompting Diicot to open a criminal investigation.

The incident is part of a larger investigation into human trafficking that the Prosecutor’s Office in Romania launched in 2020.

According to Antena 3, because the alleged incident happened in Cannes, the High Court of Cassation in France must authorise criminal proceedings for the case to move forward.

The suspects will then be summoned to Romania to give a statement.

Representatives for both Van Damme and Diicot have yet to comment on the news.

The action star – nicknamed the Muscles from Brussels - previously admitted he wanted to be “the macho man” when he was younger, which led to his falling out with Steven Seagal, but he insisted the row has now ended.

The pair were embroiled in a lengthy spat for years after Under Siege star Seagal questioned Van Damme’s martial arts ability in a 1991 interview and Van Damme later challenged him to a fight at a party thrown by Sylvester Stallone.

However, Van Damme is adamant there’s no longer any bad blood between them. He told DailyMail.com “I have no problem with Steven. When you’re young you want to be the macho man. If I saw him today, I’d have no problem.”

Van Damme previously admitted the actors were offered US$20 million ($34.91m) each to take part in a huge fight in Las Vegas, but he claimed his rival backed out.

He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “They were having an idea to have a fight between me and Steven at The Mirage [in Las Vegas]. Twenty million each. He didn’t take the fight.”