French prosecutors have formally requested that Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi be sent to trial on charges of rape, a case that has shadowed the Paris Saint-Germain defender since early 2023, Le Monde reported.
The Nanterre public prosecutor’s office filed its final submissions urging a referral to the criminal court, French daily L’Équipe reported.
The decision now rests with the investigating judge, who can either dismiss the case or order a trial.
The allegations stem from the night of February 25, 2023, when a 24-year-old woman said she visited Hakimi at his home in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt.
She told police she had met the footballer via Instagram, that he paid for her transport, and that once inside the residence he attempted to force sexual intercourse despite her repeated refusals. She said she left abruptly and contacted police.
Hakimi, 26, has consistently denied the accusations. His lawyer, Fanny Colin, has called the claims “false” and described them as an attempted extortion.
The player was placed under formal investigation in March 2023, a preliminary step in the French legal system that does not equate to guilt but allows further inquiry.
The prosecution’s request does not guarantee a trial. Judicial sources who spoke to Le Monde emphasize that the investigating magistrate must assess whether sufficient grounds exist to proceed. Hakimi, one of Morocco’s stars at the 2022 World Cup, remains active with PSG and his national team.
The latest development comes days before the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in Paris, where Hakimi is among the longlist nominees.
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