SANTIAGO - A public prosecutor in Chile on Wednesday said he had opened an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against a well-known film director.

Nicolas Lopez apologized on Tuesday in an online video following allegations from eight Chilean actresses in a magazine article on Sunday.

However, he denied he was "a stalker or an abuser."

Santiago prosecutor Manuel Guerra said he had ordered the opening of a "criminal investigation" into the magazine report, according to La Tercera newspaper on Wednesday.

"From what is revealed in the magazine, there are a couple of facts that could constitute sexual abuse, but this will be determined by diligent investigation," Guerra was quoted as saying.

In his apology, Lopez said he was "in shock" and while admitting he might have acted like "a scoundrel, an imbecile," he denied being a sex pest.

The 35-year-old gained fame through his trilogy "Que pena tu vida," "Que pena tu boda" and "Que pena tu familia," before in 2005 directing "Santos," a film about a failed comic artist. - AFP