A French senator accused of drugging another lawmaker to sexually assault her

PARIS: A French senator has been handed preliminary charges for drugging ar lawmaker with aim of rape or sexual assault, according to Paris prosecutor’s office, and has been suspended from his party.

Joel Guerriau, a 66-year-old representing Loire-Atlantique region in western France, was detained for 48 hours and given preliminary charges Friday, prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

He is suspected of putting ecstasy in a glass of Champagne he served parliament member Sandrine Josso, who left after she started feeling sick, according to French media reports. incident occurred Tuesday evening in senator’s apartment.

His lawyer said Guerriau didn’t intend to drug Josso to abuse her and has apologized to her. In a statement, lawyer Remi-Pierre Drai said ‘’it was a handling error’’ that caused lawmaker to fall ill. He did t elaborate.

‘’Joel Guerriau is t a predator,’’ lawyer said. “He is an honest, respected and respectable man who will restore his hor and that of his family however long it takes.’’

Guerriau was given preliminary charges of use and possession of drugs, and of secretly administering a discernment-altering substance to commit a rape or sexual assault. He was released under judicial supervision and barred from contact with victim and witnesses while investigation continues.

Preliminary charges under French law mean investigating magistrates have strong reason to suspect wrongdoing but allow more time before determining wher to send a case to trial.

After charges were anunced, center-right Horizons political group on Saturday anunced his suspension, saying that it ‘’will never tolerate slightest complacency toward sexual and sexist violence.'' Horizons is allied in parliament with President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party.

Josso, a member of lower house of parliament representing Loire-Atlantique region with centrist Modem party, has t spoken publicly about investigation.