Rabat – Kickboxing star Jamal Ben Saddik has been sentenced to four years in prison by the Antwerp Criminal Court for his role in the kidnapping of a dockworker.
Ben Saddik, a Belgian-Moroccan fighter who was once a leading name in Glory Kickboxing, was found guilty of helping abduct a port worker in Antwerp on July 2, 2024.
The victim had been pressured by people linked to the drug trade but refused to cooperate. After feeling unsafe at home, he checked into a hotel. On his way to a taxi, Ben Saddik and two accomplices forced him into a car and threatened him with a gun. The group later released him but vandalized his house.
Prosecutors said the crime was tied to drug trafficking at the Port of Antwerp, one of Europe’s busiest hubs for cocaine smuggling.
Ben Saddik denied involvement, claiming he only spoke to the victim about selfies they had taken together. The court dismissed his defense and ruled him guilty.
Two accomplices also received prison terms: Hicham E.F., the driver, was sentenced to 40 months, while Mohamed Z., who carried the firearm, got four years. The victim’s uncle, Abdelkarim S., who gave personal details to the kidnappers, was sentenced to 30 months.
This case adds to Ben Saddik’s legal troubles. The 34-year-old heavyweight, born in Antwerp to Moroccan parents, had already faced investigations for money laundering earlier in 2025.
Once celebrated for winning the Glory Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2018, his career has been overshadowed by repeated brushes with the law.
