Justice: Achraf Hakimi Facing Possible Trial for Aggravated Rape
In a final indictment dated August 1, prosecutors in Nanterre have called for Moroccan international footballer Achraf Hakimi, 26, to be referred to a criminal court. He is suspected of having committed an aggravated rape at his home in February 2023, near Paris.
It is now up to the investigating judge to decide whether to uphold the charges outlined in the final indictment. If the case proceeds to trial, Hakimi could face up to 15 years in prison.
The case, which has cast a shadow over the player’s public image, dates back to February 2023. In her statement to police in the Hauts-de-Seine district, a 24-year-old woman said she had first connected with the footballer through private messages on Instagram. After more than a month of online exchanges, she agreed to meet him in person and went to his home in Boulogne-Billancourt one Friday evening in a ride-hailing car ordered by Hakimi. Upon arrival, things allegedly escalated quickly.
According to the complainant, Hakimi kissed her on the mouth and on her breasts over her clothes, disregarding her objections. Despite her protests, she claims he continued with unwanted physical contact and eventually forced her into a sexual act. After a brief struggle, she managed to push him away with her foot and escape. In shock, she reportedly sent a message to a friend asking to be picked up. That friend later confirmed both the woman’s account and emotional state to the police.
The same day, the woman reported the incident at a Paris-area police station, although she did not file an official complaint. She later submitted messages sent to friends after the event, describing her distress. On March 3, 2023, Hakimi was formally charged with rape by an investigative judge, placed under judicial supervision, and released after police custody and the opening of a judicial investigation by the prosecutor’s office. During questioning, the Moroccan footballer denied any assault or rape.
On December 8, 2023, Hakimi was confronted for the first time by his accuser during a face-to-face session in the magistrate’s office. The woman reaffirmed her accusations, while Hakimi maintained his innocence.
With the prosecution now calling for the case to be referred to criminal court, it appears to have sided with the accuser’s version of events. “My client welcomes this development with immense relief,” said Rachel-Flore Pardo, lawyer for the civil party.
Responding to the indictment, Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, said Friday afternoon that the decision was “incomprehensible and absurd in light of the evidence in the file.” She added that the case had already revealed, in her view, inconsistencies in the complainant’s account, particularly based on psychological evaluations.
Colin also emphasized her client’s continued composure. “We remain, alongside Achraf Hakimi, just as calm as we were at the beginning of this process. Should these charges be upheld, we will pursue every avenue of appeal,” she stated.
Editorial team/le7tv
