Moroccan Rap Star Ali B. Faces Appeal in High-Profile Sexual Assault Case

Ali B., 43, is accused of rapes and sexual assaults by singer Ellen ten Damme, former The Voice finalist Jill Helena and Naomi, unknown to the general public. Ten Damme accuses the Moroccan of having assaulted and raped her in 2014 in Morocco, during recordings for a music show. It was rather during a writing camp in Heiloo in 2018 that Ali B. would have sexually assaulted Naomi, according to the latter. As for Jill Helena, who had Ali B. as a coach in the TV show The Voice, she accuses the rapper of having sexually assaulted and raped her in 2018.

The case will be heard again before the Amsterdam Court of Appeal. Aii B., who had denied the facts and claimed his innocence throughout the trial at first instance, will have the opportunity to defend himself and clear his name. However, he could see the sentence handed down at first instance become heavier. The preparatory hearing on Thursday was intended to clarify certain ambiguities, said Bart Swier, Ali B.’s lawyer. "We want to hear a number of witnesses, partly people already present in the file and partly new witnesses."

As announced by Swier, Ali B. did not attend this first preparatory hearing. The victims say they expect nothing from this appeal procedure. Hetty Dijkstra, Ellen ten Damme’s lawyer, said her client is not "interested" in this appeal trial, even though the justice system only retained an attempted rape against Ali B. at first instance. Jill Helena, the only one to have appeared at the first trial, hopes that Ali B. will be convicted this time and that she will be able to "turn the page".

Naomi, the least known victim, was attacked on social media after the outbreak of this case, with some internet users considering that she had "gone to this writing camp for sex, so you don’t have to complain". Her lawyer Bernard Sprenger confides that she even had to move after being the subject of threats. A complaint has been filed, but no one has been arrested so far, he regrets.