Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday by the Draguignan Assize Court for the rape of a young woman he met in Saint-Tropez in 2018. The verdict was delivered after a trial that examined the events of that summer night.
The court found Lamjarred guilty of rape, a charge he had denied. The singer, who was visibly emotional after the verdict, was taken into custody immediately. His legal team has indicated they plan to appeal the decision.
The case dates back to 2018, when the woman, then in her 20s, alleged that Lamjarred assaulted her in a hotel room in Saint-Tropez. The trial heard testimony from both the accuser and the defendant, as well as forensic evidence.
Lamjarred, a major star in the Arab world, has faced multiple sexual assault allegations in the past, including a previous case in France that was dropped. This conviction marks a significant legal outcome for the singer, who has been under judicial supervision in France since his arrest in 2016 on separate charges.
The sentence reflects the court's assessment of the evidence presented during the trial. The victim's lawyer welcomed the verdict, stating it provided justice for her client.
