Saad Lamjarred Faces Further Legal Delay in France Rape Case
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Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred, already convicted in one rape case, will have to wait at least six months for a new trial concerning allegations from 2018, after the Draguignan Assize Court postponed proceedings due to the presiding judge’s illness.
The 40-year-old musician, widely celebrated in Morocco and throughout the Arab world, was scheduled to appear in court on December 1st to address accusations of rape made by a barmaid near Saint-Tropez in 2018. However, the trial has been indefinitely delayed, prompting renewed scrutiny of the multiple allegations against the singer.
Previous Conviction and Ongoing Appeals
Lamjarred was previously sentenced to six years in prison in 2023 by a Paris court in a separate rape case, involving an incident in 2016. He is currently appealing that conviction, with a trial originally scheduled for June in Créteil (Val-de-Marne) also postponed. This pattern of legal challenges underscores the complex and protracted nature of the accusations against him.
the 2018 Saint-Tropez Allegations
The current case centers around an alleged assault that took place in August 2018. According to the complainant’s testimony to investigators,she encountered lamjarred at a nightclub in Saint-Tropez. Initially unaware of his fame, she agreed to join him for a drink at his hotel. Her account details how the encounter quickly escalated, alleging he forced himself on her in his hotel room, pinning her to the bed and raping her despite her resistance.
The defense has asserted the relationship was consensual, claiming the young woman initiated some physical contact.Though, a friend of the complainant testified to finding her in a severely distressed state immediately after the alleged assault – “shocked, her makeup dripping, her lips swollen, her eyes blank.”
Evidence and Attempts at Settlement
Forensic analysis conducted shortly after the incident indicated an alcohol level of 1.2 to 1.4 g/l in the complainant’s system and 1.6 to 1.8 g/l in Lamjarred’s.Wiretaps of the complainant’s phone revealed her fear of the case becoming public, as well as a concerning offer of 200,000 euros made to her while Lamjarred was in police custody, seemingly intended to secure an amicable settlement. While the complainant rejected the offer, a friend reportedly contacted a lawyer representing Lamjarred to explore a potential agreement, later reaffirming to investigators that her initial account of the events remained consistent.
Legal Battles and the Principle of Non-Consent
Despite initial considerations for dismissing the case, the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal upheld the decision to proceed to trial in 2021. The court explicitly stated that simply entering a man’s bedroom does not imply consent. This ruling highlights the critical legal principle that consent must be freely and actively given.
Lamjarred has faced similar allegations in the past, with cases in morocco in 2015 and the United States in 2010 ultimately dismissed following financial settlements with the accusers.
Extortion Allegations and Legal Depiction
Adding another layer of complexity, the complainant in the 2016 Paris case, along with four alleged accomplices, are facing charges of attempted extortion. They are accused of attempting to obtain 3 million euros from Lamjarred in exchange for withdrawing her complaint.
Lawyers for Lamjarred, Mes Zoé Royaux and Christian Saint-Palais, have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The postponement of the Draguignan trial, initially scheduled to open at 2 p.m.on December 1st, underscores the challenges in bringing these allegations to a definitive conclusion. The court issued a dismissal order maintaining judicial control over Lamjarred during the delay. The victim’s lawyer, Me Dominique Lardans, had indicated an intention to request a closed session, stating, “A night of horror, seven years of waiting, of suffering, of patience. She awaits with confidence the recognition of her victim status.”
