PARIS: Achraf Hakimi, the defender for Paris Saint-Germain, is set to appear in court on Friday as he seeks to have the rape charges against him dismissed. This comes as the 27-year-old Moroccan international prepares for a hearing at the Versailles appeals court, located to the west of Paris. The charges stem from an allegation made by a woman in February 2023, who claimed that Hakimi raped her in the Val-de-Marne area, southeast of Paris. Should the court reject his appeal and not reduce the charges to a lesser offense, Hakimi will be required to stand trial at a later date.
The case has garnered significant attention, particularly given Hakimi's prominence as a key player for Morocco, which made history by reaching the World Cup semifinals in 2022—the first African and Arab team to achieve this milestone. Hakimi has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting his innocence regarding the allegations. His lawyer, Fanny Colin, who was contacted by AFP, refrained from providing any comments but previously argued during a referral hearing that the accusations were based solely on the woman's testimony. Colin highlighted that the plaintiff obstructed the investigation process by refusing medical examinations and DNA tests, and declined to provide the names of potential witnesses.
The plaintiff recounted that she met Hakimi via Instagram in January 2023 and later traveled to his residence in a taxi ordered by him. She alleged that upon arrival, Hakimi kissed her and touched her without consent, ultimately leading to the reported rape. According to her statement, she managed to escape the situation and texted a friend, who subsequently came to her aid.
Since joining PSG in 2021 from Inter Milan, Hakimi has played a vital role in the team, and he is expected to participate in the upcoming Champions League final against Arsenal on May 30 in Budapest. Furthermore, he is anticipated to be a part of the Moroccan squad as they kick off their World Cup campaign against Brazil on June 13 in New Jersey, sharing their group with Scotland and Haiti.
As reported by arabnews.com.
