(Image source from: SBS)

American film producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been already charged with three indictments now has charged with new sexual assault crimes by prosecutors in New York.

Earlier this year, the producer was charged with three accusations, including rape and sexual assault, relating to alleged incidents in 2004 and 2013 involving two women. He pleaded not at fault when he was brought before a New York court.

On Monday, New York District Attorney Cyrucs Vance revealed that new charges had been brought in relation to an alleged assault on a third woman. "A Manhattan Grand Jury has now indicted Harvey Weinstein on some of the most serious sexual offenses that exist under New York's Penal Law," Vance said in a statement.

"This indictment is the result of the extraordinary courage exhibited by the survivors who have come forward. Our investigation continues. If you are a survivor of the predatory abuse with which Weinstein is charged, there is still time to pursue justice. Please call us at 212-335-9373. " he added.

Assertions against Weinstein and against else powerful figures, helped trigger the #MeToo movement, in which women, and men, shared stories of sexual assault and abuse they had suffered on social media. Many said they were speaking out for the first time, or that their claims had previously been ignored.

On Monday, Brafman issued a statement in which he again asserted his client’s innocence. The movie producer is scheduled to appear in court on 9 July to answer the latest charges.

"Weinstein will enter a plea of Not Guilty to the new charges. He maintains that all of these allegations are false and he expects to be fully vindicated,” said Brafman. "Furthermore to charge Weinstein as a predator when the interactions were each consensual is simply not justified."

Vance said the three new charges against Weinstein carried a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

By Sowmya Sangam