A French serviceman is under investigation by authorities for allegedly raping a female soldier guarding France's presidential Élysée Palace, the Paris prosecutor’s office said Friday.

The investigation was opened on July 12 and the accused serviceman was interviewed as an “assisted witness,” a status that means he was not interviewed as a suspect facing potential charges, prosecutors told the Associated Press.

President Emmanuel Macron, who resides at the Élysée, was reportedly not nearby when the alleged attack took place.

On the evening of July 1, the day of the alleged rape, Macron was at a reception at the palace to honor a departing senior officer.

The president gave a short speech before leaving the party but the celebration continued.

It was then that the female soldier accused her colleague of sexual assault, BBC News reported.

The Élysée Palace said the accused serviceman has been moved away from his post and “measures have immediately been taken: listening, supporting and accompanying the victim,” a presidential official told the AFP news agency.

Both the alleged victim and accused attacker knew each other and reportedly worked together at a high-security staff office in the building, BBC noted.

Defense Minister Florence Parly also launched an internal administrative investigation into the alleged rape, according to French media.

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