After an initial postponement last December due to the health of the court president, Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred appears this Monday before the Var Assize Court in Draguignan, in the south of France.
At 40, the artist is on trial for the alleged rape of a young barmaid in a case dating back to 2018 in Saint-Tropez. A major star of the Arab music scene, with billions of views on YouTube, Saad Lamjarred nevertheless faces serious accusations. Already sentenced in 2023 by the Paris Assize Court to six years in prison for rape in another case, the singer firmly denies these new accusations and continues to proclaim his innocence. During the investigation, the plaintiff's defense denounced attempts to cover up the case. A close associate of the singer allegedly tried to offer the young woman money in exchange for her silence.
In this case, the prosecution initially requested that the charges be dropped, before the investigating chamber in Aix-en-Provence ultimately ordered the artist to stand trial before the Assize Court. The judges emphasized that entering a man's bedroom cannot be interpreted as consent. This new trial is scheduled to continue until next Friday. This is a crucial new legal step for the Moroccan singer, whose situation has already been weakened by several sexual assault cases.
