Hakimi Responds As Court Orders Trial In Rape Allegation Case

‎Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan international and PSG defender, faces a trial over the alleged rape of a young woman in February 2023, with information provided to AFP by the player’s lawyer and the Nanterre prosecutor’s office.

‎”Today, a rape accusation alone is enough to justify a trial, even though I contest it and everything shows it is false,” the player responded on X. “I am calmly awaiting this trial, which will allow the truth to come out publicly.”

‎At the end of February 2023, the young woman who was 24 at the time, like the player went to a police station in Val-de-Marne, where she reported being raped, but did not file a formal complaint.

‎”A trial is being ordered based solely on the word of a woman who blocked all investigations, refused all medical exams and DNA tests, refused to allow her phone to be examined, and refused to name a key witness,” said the player’s lawyer, Fanny Colin.

‎The civil party, citing a police source, alleged that the player kissed her, touched her without consent, and then raped her.

‎When reached for comment, the young woman’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, did not immediately respond to the referral for the trial.

‎Ms. Colin stated that the “two psychological assessments” of the victim “revealed a lack of clarity regarding the facts she claims to report” and pointed out in particular “that she tried to hide from the judicial authorities several messages exchanged with one of her friends, planning to rob Mr. Hakimi.”

‎After the prosecutor’s recommendations, which called for the footballer to be sent to trial for rape, Ms. Pardo stated that “nothing in this case suggests an extortion attempt”.

‎”We will not tolerate any smear campaign or attempt at destabilisation, as unfortunately still happens too often to women who dare to report rape,” she added.

‎”We are determined and ready to fight as we await this trial, so that justice can be served.”