Paris' chief prosecutor is opening an investigation into the rape of minors and other charges linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Remy Heitz said in a statement that his decision to open a preliminary investigation was based on "elements transmitted" to his office and "exchanges with American authorities".

The charges involve young people aged 15 and older.

No further details were immediately provided.

Disgraced billionaire Epstein took his own life in US custody while awaiting trial for alleged sex trafficking.


The 66-year-old was facing a 45-year sentence if convicted of multiple counts of sexually abusing underage girls.

His death sparked outrage as he had been on suicide watch in prison, having been found with marks around his neck on 23 July.

Paris has opened an investigation a day after it emerged Epstein put more than $577m (£476m) of his assets into a secret trust fund before his death.

The discovery of the newly-created 1953 Trust, named after the year of his birth, led many to question whether he did it to keep money from the many women who claim he sexually abused them as teenagers.

Footage shows duke inside Epstein's mansion

Prince Andrew said he was "appalled" by the recent sex abuse claims surrounding Epstein after footage emerged of the royal inside the convicted paedophile's Manhattan mansion in 2010.

Epstein was a registered sex offender after pleading guilty in 2008 to Florida state charges of unlawfully paying a teenage girl for sex.

However that conviction was also shrouded in controversy, as he pleaded guilty in exchange for the justice department's agreement not to prosecute him on similar charges.

He served 13 months in jail and agreed to register as a sex offender under the 2008 plea deal, which is now widely seen as too lenient.