Harvey Weinstein released on $1m bail after arrest on rape and abuse charges

The New York State Supreme Court has released former Hollywood film mogul Harvey Weinstein release on a $1m bail after being charged over rape and sexual abuse.

Mr Weinstein, 66, also agreed to wear a GPS tracker and to surrender his passport after turning himself in to police on Friday, reports BBC News.

According to an ABC news report, Judge Kevin McGrath set Weinstein's bond at $10 million, with $1 million paid in cash to post bail. The judge also imposed a temporary protective order directing Weinstein to stay away from the two women whose complaints prompted the charges.

The case was adjourned to Jul 30.

Seven months after the allegations destroyed his career and catalysed the #MeToo movement, the once-powerhouse movie producer turned himself in to face the charges. But he denies non-consensual sex and his lawyer said he would plead not guilty.

The actress Rose McGowan, who accused Mr Weinstein of rape, told the media that it was an “amazing day for his survivors”.

“It's a very significant moment, it's a concrete slap in the face of abuse of power,” she said. “It's just the beginning of that process and if we can see this through to the end, I hope we emerge victorious.”

File Photo: Actor Rose McGowan addresses the audience during the opening session of the three-day Women's Convention at Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan, US, Oct 27, 2017. Reuters

According to the BBC News, more than 70 women have accused Mr Weinstein of sexual misconduct although the charges relate to only two of them. Some allegations date back decades.

Prosecutors said on Friday that Mr Weinstein had been charged with two counts of rape and one count of a criminal sexual act involving two women, who were not identified, reports BBC NEWS.

Wearing a dark jacket over a blue jumper and white open-collared shirt and dark jeans, he gave a weak smile as police officers escorted him inside a lower Manhattan police station at about 7:25am.

In the brief court appearance, prosecutor Joan Illuzzi said the former studio boss had used his position, money and power to lure young women into situations where he was able to violate them sexually.

Witnesses say Mr Weinstein appeared pale and stared into space while prosecutors outlined the bail agreement.

Outside the court, Mr Weinstein's lawyer, Ben Brafman, told reporters his client would enter a not guilty plea.

“We intend to move very quickly to dismiss these charges,” Mr Brafman said. “We believe that they are constitutionally flawed. We believe that they are not factually supported by the evidence,” reports BBC NEWS.

The New York Police Department issued a statement thanking “these brave survivors for their courage to come forward and seek justice".

The identity of one of the women whose accusations prompted the charges was confirmed by her lawyer on Friday. Former actress Lucia Evans had already publicly accused Mr Weinstein of forcing her into oral sex in 2004.

Otherwise, he has been hit by a litany of civil lawsuits and The Weinstein Company – which sacked him – has since filed for bankruptcy.

His wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, left him soon after the allegations surfaced, with police criminal investigations ongoing in London, Los Angeles and New York.