Did Anne Hathaway help FBI with boyfriend’s arrest?

The arrest of Anne Hathaway's boyfriend Raffaello Follieri (left) last week - the Manhattan-based Italian entrepreneur is currently languishing in a New York jail on charges of fraud, conspiracy and money-laundering, crimes connected with an alleged multi-million dollar property scam – has prompted one of Follieri's intimates to speculate on whether the actress played a part in his downfall.

One friend, quoted in the New York Daily News, is convinced that Hathaway, 25, star of The Devil Wears Prada and Get Smart, knew that the FBI were moving in on her boyfriend. The theory goes that she concealed this from him in return for agents delaying Follieri's arrest until last Wednesday. Last week Hathaway (right) was promoting Get Smart, and the last thing she needed - the theory goes - was to be caught up in a media storm (at least one connected with a felony).

Says the unnamed source: "I think that in return for her cooperation, the feds held off on arresting Follieri until she was out of the country. It makes sense. She's referred to as his former girlfriend in the indictment even though her spokesman never confirmed they broke up."

There appears to be some truth in this last remark. Hathaway's management company refuses to say when the couple split up - a spokesman said at the weekend that she would probably never make any comment on the matter - but many believe it was shortly before the arrest, perhaps even on the same day.