Trial of Moroccan Singer Saad Lamjarred Starts in Paris

The trial of Moroccan singer-songwriter Saad Lamjarred, who is famous on the Arab pop music scene, started in Paris on Monday.

Lamjarred is accused of aggravated rape and assault. He allegedly raped a French woman at a luxury hotel on the Champs-Elysees in October 2016 while he was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine. 

The 37-year-old musician has denied the allegations. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. A verdict is expected on Friday. 

The victim, who was 20 years old at the time, said that she met Lamjarred at a Paris nightclub and accompanied him to his hotel, according to the document summarising the conclusions of the investigation read out in court by the presiding magistrate. 

She said that he struck her several times as she was trying to push him back before he raped her, the document said. 

The woman managed to leave the room and hotel staff reported seeing her crying and in distress. 

During the trial, Lamjarred rejected the allegations and acknowledged he had “occasionally” used alcohol and drugs at the time, but has since stopped.

The court said Lamjarred respected the conditions of the judicial supervision he has been under since 2017. Lamjarred is not permitted to perform in France but has been allowed to leave the country for shows abroad.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco awarded him the highest national honor in 2015.

Lamjarred has also been charged with the aggravated rape of another woman in August 2018 at a nightclub in Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera. A trial date hasn’t been set for that case.