French investigators have tracked down the modelling agent accused of supplying underage girls to paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
Jean-Luc Brunel, described as the depraved financier’s “closest pal”, had not been seen since 2015, after he was accused of being his “fixer”.
The 72-year-old Frenchman was discovered in South America but there is no confirmation on whether prosecutors have spoken to him yet.
A Dutch model has alleged Brunel drugged and raped her in the early 1990s.
And court filings implicate Brunel in procuring girls – including three sisters aged 12 – for Epstein.
Alleged victim Virginia Giuffre says in court papers Brunel “farmed out” modelling hopefuls to Epstein and other prominent men for sex.
She also alleges that she was forced to have sex with Brunel at Epstein’s luxury homes – and that Brunel once set up a photoshoot with seven Russian girls as Prince Andrew watched.
The Duke of York, once a pal of Epstein, has vehemently denied he was on his private Caribbean island at the time she alleges it took place.
The Brunel development came after it emerged searches were made at Epstein’s flat and the Karin Models agency owned by Brunel earlier this week.
In a 2015 statement, Brunel denied involvement “directly or indirectly” in Epstein’s crimes, saying: “I strongly deny having committed any illicit act or any wrongdoing in the course of my work.”
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew remained tight-lipped when we approached him on a visit to the University of South Wales.
It came after Guiffre last week repeated claims Epstein made her have sex with the Duke.
Andrew, 59, has denied “any form of sexual contact or relationship” with her.
Epstein killed himself in a US jail in August, aged 66, while awaiting trial on one count of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
