Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein questioned by police over alleged sexual assault

Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been questioned by New York City police after a 22-year-old Italian woman accused him of sexually assaulting her.

The 63-year-old producer is alleged to have inappropriately touched the unidentified woman at his office in Manhattan, the New York Daily News reported.

The woman told police Weinstein touched her breasts and thigh at his office the Tribeca Film Centre in Manhattan on 27 March.

Weinstein is alleged to have initiated contact with the 22-year-old woman at the Greenwich Street cinema at around 6pm and set up a second meeting with her the following night to 'talk business'.

According to Page Six , during the meeting, Weinstein is alleged to have asked the Italian national if her breasts were 'real'. It is claimed that Weinstein grabbed one of the woman's breasts. She is reported to have reacted saying 'no' in an effort to make him stop.

The suspected victim then left the film centre and went directly to the 1st Police Precinct to file a complaint.

The New York Post, which also reported the alleged incident, cited a source close to Weinstein who said: "We believe this is a blackmail attempt, and he did nothing wrong."

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance will make a determination whether charges will be filed against the co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.

According to Variety, Weinstein is scheduled to attend the New York premiere of his latest drama, Woman in Gold, at the Museum of Modern Art along with star Helen Mirren, this evening. (30 March)

The founder of Miramax studio is married to British-born fashion designer Georgina Chapman, who is 25 years his junior. The couple have been together for seven years and have two young children.

Weinstein also has three older daughters from his first marriage to his former assistant, Eve Chilton. The two split up in 2004.

Weinstein's office in Los Angeles declined to respond to requests for comment.

The Hollywood heavyweight, who co-founded Miramax Films and is credited with launching the careers of some of Hollywood's biggest stars, won an Academy Award in 1998 for Shakespeare In Love. He was also nominated for an Oscar for the Martin Scorsese hit film Gangs Of New York.