Jeffrey Epstein’s former close friend and business partner has insisted that he is “not on the run” and is willing to talk to prosecutors, despite not having been seen in public since Epstein’s death.

Jean-Luc Brunel, 74, is a model scout who is said to have “discovered” Jerry Hall, Angie Everhart and Christy Turlington.

The Paris prosecutor's office opened a preliminary investigation in August into any possible Epstein victims in its territory, and Mr Brunel is of potential interest to investigators.

Last month police searched Karin Models, which Mr Brunel founded.

In court filings, Virginia Guiffre, a long-time accuser of Epstein, claimed teenage girls were brought to the US by Brunel and were “farmed out” by him to have sex with Epstein. Ms Guiffre also claims she was forced to have sex with Brunel several times. Brunel denies both allegations.

His lawyer Corinne Dreyfus-Schmidt said Mr Brunel "firmly contests accusations in the press" and "will reserve his statements for justice officials."

On Monday Ms Dreyfus-Schmidt, said that her client has notified the Paris prosecutor's office that he is at the disposition of judicial officials.

He did so before French officials opened a full investigation into the Epstein case. Mr Brunel's whereabouts had been a mystery, with sightings of him in South America the only clue.