Paris Saint-Germain defender, Achraf Hakimi, has been indicted on rape charges by French prosecutors. The announcement was made on Friday, and the prosecutor’s office in the Paris suburb of Nanterre has revealed that Hakimi was questioned on Thursday by investigators who were probing the rape allegations. He was then indicted by an investigating judge and placed under judicial supervision.
The allegations against Hakimi are serious, and the Moroccan national team player is now prohibited from contacting the alleged victim, who is a 24-year-old woman. She claims that Hakimi raped her on Saturday at his home in a Paris suburb. Hakimi is also allowed to leave French territory, according to prosecutors.
Despite the charges, Hakimi maintains his innocence. According to his lawyer, Fanny Colin, Hakimi, who is 24 years old, “firmly denies all the accusations against him” and welcomes the investigation because “he finally has the possibility to defend himself”.
In a statement released on Thursday, PSG expressed its support for the player, saying, “The club supports the player, who has firmly denied the accusations and trusts the justice system. Paris St-Germain is an institution that promotes respect on and off the pitch.”
The allegations against Hakimi are said to have occurred on February 25, when he allegedly invited a woman to his home while his wife and kids were on holiday.
According to Le Parisien, the defender began talking to the woman on Instagram on January 16 before inviting her to his home in Boulogne. He reportedly ordered an Uber to transport her.
Hakimi is a Spanish-born defender who helped Morocco make World Cup history last year by becoming the first African team to reach the tournament’s semi-finals. He was seen training with PSG on Friday, despite the charges against him.
The allegations against Hakimi are serious, and the case is likely to attract a great deal of attention. As one of the most high-profile players in one of the world’s most high-profile sports, any legal action against him is bound to generate headlines.
While Hakimi maintains his innocence, the allegations will undoubtedly cast a shadow over his career, and he will be hoping that the investigation will clear his name.
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