Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi finds himself embroiled in a severe legal battle, facing grave allegations that could significantly impact his promising football career. The renowned defender, celebrated for his dynamic play on the field, is now at the center of a high-stakes judicial proceeding in France.
Reports indicate that French prosecutors have formally endorsed a final indictment, aiming to bring the 26-year-old before a criminal court on official rape charges. This development suggests a serious progression in the case, with the potential for a substantial sentence looming over the Moroccan international. If convicted, the full-back could reportedly face up to 15 years in prison, reflecting the maximum penalty for the alleged crime under French law.
The incident at the heart of these serious allegations reportedly dates back to February 2023. According to a report by French outlet Le Parisien, a 24-year-old woman informed police that she initially connected with the footballer in January of the same year through Instagram correspondence, leading to an invitation to his home near the French capital.
Upon her arrival, the woman alleges that Achraf Hakimi engaged in non-consensual acts, including kissing her mouth and breasts through her clothes. This was reportedly followed by a more direct assault. The alleged victim claims she managed to repel Hakimi by pushing him away with her foot, subsequently leaving his residence and arranging for a friend to pick her up.
In the aftermath of these claims, an investigating judge formally charged Achraf Hakimi with rape on March 3, 2023. He was briefly taken into custody as part of the legal process before being released under judicial supervision, a standard procedure in such cases. Throughout these initial proceedings, Hakimi has steadfastly denied all allegations leveled against him.
The legal saga continued with a significant confrontation on December 8, 2023, where the alleged victim directly reiterated her claims to Hakimi during a session in the investigating judge’s office. Despite the direct confrontation, the footballer once again vehemently rejected any wrongdoing, publicly asserting, “They wanted to blackmail me and that’s why we filed a complaint and it’s going well. The justice system handled things rather well.”
With the most recent updates, a prosecuting official has stated that the decision regarding a possible trial now rests with the investigating judge. A representative for the alleged victim expressed immense relief at this news, emphasizing that nothing in the case suggests an attempted racketeering and vowing to resist any smear campaigns, which are regrettably common for women reporting such crimes.
Conversely, Hakimi’s legal team maintains his innocence, with his lawyer contending that the plaintiff’s statements contain inconsistencies. The defense has notably pointed to psychological assessments conducted on the alleged victim, asserting that these establish “the plaintiff’s lies.” Both Achraf Hakimi and his legal counsel reiterate their calm composure since the commencement of proceedings, confident in their position.
