Moroccan Singer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Rape in France
The Moroccan singer maintains his innocence and plans to challenge the verdict before France’s highest court.
Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for rape by an appeals court in Créteil, south-east of Paris.
The 41-year-old singer was convicted of raping a woman in a Paris hotel room in 2016 after meeting her at a nightclub. The woman was 20 at the time, while Lamjarred was 31.
The latest sentence is higher than the six-year prison term imposed by a Paris Assize Court in 2023. French prosecutors had sought an eight-year sentence. Lamjarred was also ordered into custody following the verdict.
Lamjarred has consistently maintained his innocence. His lawyer, Marie Burguburu, said he intends to challenge the ruling before France’s Court of Cassation, the country’s highest court for reviewing legal decisions.
The appeal proceedings were held behind closed doors after the trial was postponed to allow further investigations.
The latest conviction comes months after Lamjarred received a separate five-year prison sentence in France over the rape of a young woman near Saint-Tropez in 2018. He has appealed that conviction.
Despite his legal troubles, Lamjarred remains one of the most popular Moroccan and Arab performers, with millions of followers and subscribers across social media platforms.
