Rabat – Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred’s alleged victim is suspected of extorting €3 million from the singer in exchange for withdrawing her rape accusations.
AFP quoted on Tuesday a judicial source who said that the Paris criminal court has summoned the 29-year-old complainant for allegedly asking Lamjarred to pay her €3 million to withdraw her accusations.
She allegedly submitted her request to the singer through her manager, AFP reported. The source quoted by the news outlet said the complainant asked for the money to either withdraw her accusations or not appear at the hearing before the assize court.
The same source said Lamjarred was able to dismiss the complainant’s attempt to blackmail him by reporting to the police.
The court also summoned four alleged accomplices in the case, including the complainant’s mother, her lawyer, and an influencer. The other accomplices are being questioned for attempted extortion and criminal conspiracy.
Lamjarred’s lawyers, Zoe Royaux and Laurent Simeray, told AFP that the new developments weaken the credibility of the complainant.
In February 2023, the Paris assize court sentenced Lamjarred to six years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting and physically attacking the complainant he met in a Paris nightclub in 2016, in a hotel room.
Lamjarred, however, maintained his innocence and denied any actual penetration of the accuser. The complainant accused the singer of beating her several times after she rejected his advances.
During his first trial, the court’s president argued that the absence of DNA does not mean that there was no penetration. The court, however, stressed Lamjarred’s DNA was on the complainant’s clothes.
In April 2023, Lamjarred was granted provisional release while awaiting the outcome of his appeal.
In addition to this case, Lamjarred is expected to appear in court in southeastern France on December 1 for other allegations filed by another woman in 2018 in the resort town of Saint-Tropez.
