In the western suburbs of Paris, a case involving Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has reached the point at which a criminal trial can no longer be avoided through appeal. France’s Supreme Court has upheld the decision to send the Morocco international to trial over an alleged rape in 2023, an allegation Hakimi has consistently denied.
Appeal route closed
- A woman and Hakimi first came into contact on social media and exchanged messages for several months before arranging to meet at his home in Boulogne-Billancourt in February 2023.
- The woman, then 24, alleged that Hakimi kissed her despite her refusal, lifted her clothing, kissed her breasts and digitally penetrated her while she resisted. She said she got away after kicking him, then contacted a friend who came to collect her.
- Hakimi denied any non-consensual conduct from the outset. He has disputed that there was penetration, maintaining that the encounter involved only mutual embraces and consensual kissing.
- Investigators questioned Kylian Mbappé, Hakimi’s PSG team-mate at the time, on 14 April 2023 after the defender spoke to him on the night in question.
- Mbappé initially said Hakimi had told him they had kissed and that he had touched “her intimate parts”, while adding that Hakimi had not described any rejection from the woman.
- The investigating judge considered that account capable of supporting the complainant’s version and ordered Hakimi to face trial.
- Hakimi’s lawyers challenged that ruling, producing a later letter from Mbappé which said Hakimi had used the phrase “intimate parts”, rather than “her intimate parts”. The defence argued that this altered the sexual meaning of the conversation.
- The Versailles Court of Appeal nevertheless upheld the trial order on 19 June, during the World Cup staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
- France’s highest court rejected the final appeal on Wednesday, leaving Hakimi without another legal avenue to prevent a trial.
A future hearing in Hauts-de-Seine
The 27-year-old, who was born in Madrid, is now due to appear before the criminal court in Hauts-de-Seine, with Nanterre a possible venue. No date has yet been set for the hearing.
Mbappé could be summoned as a witness, given the role of his statements in the investigation and in the defence’s argument on whether the encounter was consensual.
Complainant’s response
Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the complainant, said her client believed justice would be done after three and a half years of legal proceedings. She said the woman intended to continue the case to its conclusion despite what she described as defamatory treatment and efforts by Hakimi’s defence to discredit her.
Pardo added that her client hoped the proceedings would assist other women and further challenge the culture of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including within professional football.
