A French appeal court has sentenced Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred to 10 years in prison for raping a 20-year-old woman in 2016. The court in Créteil, southeast of Paris, handed down the sentence, which is more severe than the six-year prison term imposed by a lower court in 2023. Lamjarred, 41, was found guilty of raping the woman, known as Laura B, in a hotel room after meeting her at a Parisian nightclub.
The prosecution had requested an eight-year prison term, but the court ultimately imposed a harsher sentence. Lamjarred's lawyers, including Marie Bourgobure, said they would appeal the decision to the Court of Cassation, France's highest court. The singer has maintained his innocence throughout the trial. His lawyers argued that the prosecution's strategy was overly aggressive and that the court's decision was influenced by Lamjarred's celebrity status.
The case against Lamjarred dates back to 2016, when he met Laura B at a nightclub in Paris. The two had a brief relationship, but Lamjarred was accused of raping her in a hotel room. The prosecution presented evidence that Lamjarred was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the alleged rape. Lamjarred's defense team argued that the relationship was consensual, but the court rejected this claim.
This is not Lamjarred's first conviction for rape. In May 2023, he was sentenced to five years in prison for raping a young woman in 2018 near Saint-Tropez. He has also been accused of rape in other cases, including one in Morocco in 2015 and another in the United States in 2010. In the latter case, the allegations were settled out of court.
In addition to his prison sentence, Lamjarred was also found liable for damages to Laura B. His lawyers argued that the court's decision was unfair and that the prosecution's strategy was designed to vilify their client. However, the court rejected these claims and imposed a significant sentence.
Lamjarred's conviction has sparked a significant reaction in Morocco and the wider Arab world, where he is a popular singer and entertainer. His fans have expressed shock and disappointment at the court's decision, while others have called for him to be held accountable for his actions. The case has also raised questions about the treatment of women in the entertainment industry and the challenges of prosecuting rape cases.
The court's decision is final, but Lamjarred's lawyers have vowed to continue fighting his conviction. They argue that the court's decision was unfair and that their client was denied a fair trial. However, the prosecution maintains that justice has been served and that Lamjarred must be held accountable for his actions.
Key points
- Saad Lamjarred has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping a 20-year-old woman in 2016.
- The singer has maintained his innocence and plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Cassation.
- This is Lamjarred's second conviction for rape, following a five-year prison sentence in 2023 for a similar offense.
