Hakimi Faces Rape Trial
French Appeals Court Confirms Achraf Hakimi Will Face Rape Trial From 2023 Allegations
Key Points
In its ruling, the Versailles appeals court said the investigations during the preliminary inquiry and judicial investigation led the investigating chamber to conclude there was «sufficient evidence against Mr. Achraf Hakimi to justify referring him to the departmental criminal court in Hauts-de-Seine.»
A police source said the complainant told investigators she first met Hakimi on Instagram in January 2023 and later travelled to his residence by taxi that she said he ordered; she added that she was able to push him away and send a message to a friend who later picked her up.
Reacting to the decision, Hakimi posted on X that «The justice system looked me in the eye and told me: if you were not famous, there would be no case», adding that he chose silence for years while trusting “justice.”
Reuters reported that the Nanterre prosecutor’s office opened the 2023 investigation after the rape allegation was made.
Several reports tied the timing of the ruling to Hakimi’s Morocco schedule: Reuters said he would join the Morocco squad against Scotland later on Friday after playing in the World Cup opener against Brazil, despite the trial not yet having a set start date.
A French appeals court in Versailles has confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi will stand trial on a rape charge, rejecting his appeal against the referral. The case will be heard in the Hauts-de-Seine criminal court, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. No trial date has been set.
The allegations date to February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman — speaking publicly for the first time under the pseudonym Jeanne — said Hakimi kissed and touched her without consent and raped her at his home. She said she pushed him away and texted a friend, who came to pick her up. Hakimi has denied all accusations.
Court Finds Sufficient Evidence to Proceed to Trial
In its ruling, the Versailles appeals court said investigations during the preliminary inquiry led to the conclusion that there was "sufficient evidence against Mr. Achraf Hakimi" to send him to the departmental criminal court. The case will be heard by five professional judges — no jury — under a relatively new French court format designed to speed up sexual assault cases, Al Jazeera reported.
The Nanterre prosecutor's office first opened an investigation on February 27, 2023 — just one day after the woman visited a police station, according to Reuters. She did not file a formal complaint at the time. Under French law, prosecutors can open a case on their own if the alleged crime is serious enough. Hakimi was formally indicted in March 2023 and placed under judicial supervision.
How the Alleged Incident Unfolded in February 2023
The woman told investigators she first contacted Hakimi on Instagram in January 2023. On February 25, 2023, she traveled to his home in Boulogne-Billancourt in a taxi she said he ordered for her, according to police sources cited by Metro. Hakimi's wife and children were reportedly on vacation in Dubai at the time.
After the alleged assault, the woman said she managed to push Hakimi away. She sent a message to a friend, who later came to pick her up. She went to a police station the following day. Legal analysts say the taxi logs, Instagram messages, and the friend's testimony form the core of the evidence against Hakimi, according to the New York Post.
Hakimi Says Fame Made Him a Target; Accuser Wants to Be Believed
Reacting to the ruling on X, Hakimi wrote: "The justice system looked me in the eye and told me: if you were not famous, there would be no case." He said he had stayed silent for years while trusting the justice system. His lawyer, Fanny Colin, said the court's decision is procedural and does not mean he is guilty.
The complainant, Jeanne, spoke publicly for the first time after the ruling. "I want a trial because I want to be heard and I want to be believed," she said. Her lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, called the decision "a major step" that brought her client "relief and hope," according to Marca.
Hakimi Captains Morocco at World Cup Amid Legal Cloud
The ruling came while Hakimi was on international duty. Reuters reported he was set to join Morocco's squad for a match against Scotland on Friday, just after playing in the country's World Cup opener against Brazil. He remains Morocco's captain despite the ongoing case. Under French law, rape carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
PSG has allowed Hakimi to play throughout the 15-month investigation — he has appeared in over 45 club matches since his indictment in March 2023, according to Yahoo Sports. The club has not commented on the appeals court ruling. A trial date has not yet been announced, but the Versailles decision exhausts Hakimi's pre-trial options to have the charges dropped.
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