Morocco’s most popular music star, Saad Lamjarred, is facing a 20-year jail term if he is convicted in a aggravated rape and assault case which has begun in France’s capital, Paris.
Lamjarred is accused of allegedly raping a French woman at a luxury hotel on the Champs-Elysees in October 2016 while he was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, accusations he has consistently denied.
At a resumed sitting on Monday, the victim told the court that Lamjarred had beaten her several times as she resisted his advances, according to court statements, with court statements further indicating that she was seen “leaving the hotel crying and in a state of distress.”
However, Lamjarred who made an appearance in the court along with his wife, said that he rejects the allegations of aggravated rape and assault, but admitted, to “occasionally” using alcohol and drugs, acts he said he has stopped since.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Jean-Marc Descoubes, told reporters that her client remains “strong,” despite her alleged traumatic incident.
“It was extremely violent… It was very traumatic for her. She’s still being treated, but she remains strong, decent, and courageous,” the lawyer said.
According to media reports in Morocco, this is not the first time the famous singer will be charged with aggravated rape as he had, in August 2018, faced the same charge at a nightclub in Saint-Tropez, France.
The sentencing is scheduled for Friday when Lamjarred will know if he will be on a journey to prison or freedom.