Hakimi placed under formal investigation for rape, lawyer calls it an "attempted shakedown"
Achraf Hakimi, the Morocco international, has been placed under formal investigation after a rape allegation made by a woman. His lawyer denounces an attempted shakedown.
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Just as Paris Saint-Germain prepare for a huge trip to Munich for the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie, Achraf Hakimi is facing an allegation of rape from a 24-year-old woman. According to a police source quoted by AFP, the alleged victim got to know Hakimi on a social network and went to the Moroccan's home.
She claims she was touched without her consent before being raped. Although no complaint was filed, the prosecutor's office took up the case and placed the Morocco international under formal investigation. The PSG right-back's lawyer sent the media a statement saying that "during his interview, which took place at his own express request, Achraf Hakimi firmly denied the accusations made against him."
⚖ Under investigation since last weekend over a rape allegation, PSG player Achraf Hakimi has just been placed under formal investigation in this case, AFP learned from the prosecutor's office on Friday.
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) March 3, 2023
Lawyer denounces an "attempted shakedown"
The player's lawyer, Fanny Colin, points out "that the formal investigation that followed this interview is a mandatory step for anyone facing a rape allegation and at last gives Mr Hakimi the chance to defend himself, by granting him a large number of rights. First of all, that of seeing the case file", she continued. "After the several hours of questioning, what I take from it is that the accuser refused to file a complaint, refused to undergo any medical or psychological examination and refused to be confronted with Achraf Hakimi. And yet the accusation rests solely on her statements. In my view, it emerges from the documents in the hands of the criminal investigation police that Mr Hakimi has, in this case, been the target of an attempted shakedown."
PSG and Christophe Galtier back Hakimi
PSG's response came quickly and was unequivocal. The club "supports Achraf Hakimi and trusts in the justice system," said a PSG spokesperson. Shortly afterwards, the PSG coach, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said the coaching staff intend to handle the situation calmly and are counting on the Morocco international for the trip to Bayern Munich on 8 March. "We'll handle it normally, he'll train tomorrow, he'll train on Sunday, and I dare hope that on Monday he'll train normally with the group and that he'll be available against Bayern," explained Christophe Galtier.