PSG Star Achraf Hakimi Faces Potential Rape Trial, Prosecutors Seek Criminal Court Referral

Achraf Hakimi soon to be tried for rape? On Friday, the Nanterre prosecutor’s office requested the referral of Achraf Hakimi to the criminal court of the Hauts-de-Seine department to be tried for rape. It is now up to the investigating judge to confirm or not the terms of the prosecution’s final indictment, signed on August 1st. The Moroccan right-back of PSG risks up to fifteen years in prison in the event of a trial for rape.

In the eyes of Fanny Colin, the player’s lawyer, these requisitions are "incomprehensible and senseless in view of the elements of the file". He adds: "We remain as serene as at the opening of the procedure with Achraf Hakimi. If these requisitions were to be followed, we would obviously exercise all avenues of appeal". For her part, Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer for the civil party, stated that her client "welcomes this news with immense relief".

The facts date back to February 25, 2023. A 24-year-old woman had gone to the police station in Nogent-sur-Marne (Val-de-Marne) and had stated that she had been raped by the Moroccan defender at his home on February 25, 2023. She had claimed to have been forcibly kissed and to have undergone digital penetration despite her resistance. She had added that she had managed to push him away and specified that a friend, contacted by SMS, had come to pick her up.

The alleged victim had not filed a complaint, but the Nanterre prosecutor’s office had taken up the case on its own. On March 3, 2023, the Moroccan player had been indicted for "rape" by an investigating judge and placed under judicial supervision, after being taken into custody and the opening of a judicial investigation by the prosecutor’s office. Hearings during which he had denied any aggression or rape. The Moroccan player had even denounced an attempted extortion against him and initiated proceedings against the complainant.