Achraf Hakimi seeks dismissal of rape case before French appeals court

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi will ask a French appeals court on Friday to throw out the rape case in which he has been ordered to stand trial, according to AFP, citing a source close to the case.

The hearing is due to take place before the Versailles appeals court, west of Paris, and will examine the case involving the 27-year-old Morocco international. If the appeal is unsuccessful and the charge is not reclassified as a lesser offence, Hakimi will face trial at a later date to be set by the court.

The case stems from a complaint made in February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman told police in the Val-de-Marne area southeast of Paris that Hakimi had raped her. He was later formally charged and placed under judicial supervision. In February this year, a decision was taken to send the matter to trial.

Hakimi has denied wrongdoing in the case. Contacted by AFP, his lawyer Fanny Colin declined to comment on the latest proceedings.

Allegations and defence arguments

The complainant told investigators that she met Hakimi through Instagram in January 2023 and later went to his home in a taxi arranged by the player. A police source had said at the time that she alleged Hakimi kissed her, touched her without consent and then raped her. She also said she was able to push him away and send a message to a friend, who then came to collect her.

During the referral hearing, Colin challenged the basis of the case and argued that the evidence was insufficient.

She said:

the accusation rests solely on the word of a woman who obstructed all investigations, refused all medical examinations and DNA tests (and) refused to give the name of key witnesses

The appeals court will now consider whether the case should proceed in its current form.

Player profile and upcoming fixtures

Hakimi is one of Morocco’s most prominent footballers and played a major role in the national side’s run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, making Morocco the first African and Arab team to reach the last four of the tournament.

At club level, he joined PSG in 2021 from Inter Milan after earlier spells with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. He is expected to be part of the PSG side for the Champions League final against Arsenal on May 30 in Budapest.

He is also expected to be included in Morocco’s squad for its World Cup opener against Brazil on June 13 in New Jersey in Group C, which also includes Scotland and Haiti.

The outcome of Friday’s hearing will determine whether the case moves ahead toward a full trial or whether Hakimi succeeds in having it dismissed or reduced to a lesser charge.