The trial of Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred opened on Monday, May 11, 2026, before the Var criminal court in Draguignan, France, on charges of the alleged rape of a barmaid in 2018 near Saint-Tropez. Lamjarred denies the allegations.
The court ordered the proceedings to be held behind closed doors during the morning session, according to reports. The case dates back to an incident in 2018 when the woman accused Lamjarred of rape at a hotel near Saint-Tropez.
Lamjarred, a popular singer in the Arab world, has faced multiple sexual assault allegations in the past. In 2023, he was sentenced to six years in prison in France for a separate rape case, but he appealed that conviction. The current trial is for a different alleged victim.
The trial is expected to last several days, with testimony from the accuser and witnesses. The court will also consider evidence including medical reports and phone records.
