Paris Saint-Germain star defender Achraf Hakimi was accused of rape by a woman and was handed preliminary, French prosecutors said on Friday.
The prosecutors’ office in the Paris suburb of Nanterre released a statement that Hakimi was questioned on Thursday by investigators probing rape allegations, after which he was then indicted by an investigating judge and placed under judicial supervision.
Preliminary charges, according to French law, mean there is reason to suspect a crime has been committed while allowing magistrates more time to investigate before committing to a decision on whether to send the case to trial.
Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, maintains her client “strongly denied accusations made against him” in a written message to The Associated Press.
Colin further added that her client being indicted is an “obligatory step for any person being accused of rape” and that this will allow Hakimi to defend himself as it gives him access to the case. She also said that some elements collected by the judicial police show, according to her, that Hakimi “in this case has been subjected to a racketeering attempt.”
The Morocco national player has since been prohibited from coming into contact with the alleged victim, a 24-year-old woman who says she was raped by Hakimi on Saturday at his home in a Paris suburb. However, Hakimi is allowed the freedom to leave French territory, prosecutors said.
According to Le Parisien, which carried the expose of the allegations earlier this week, the woman had gone to the police station on Sunday where she made the accusation that he had raped her at his apartment. Her lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said in a statement that preliminary charges show “there is reliable and consistent evidence.”
“My client made the choice to confide in justice, and only in justice, and will speak only to justice,” she said in a statement to the AP. “We won’t tolerate any smear or destabilization campaign [against her].”
Prosecutors opened their preliminary investigation on Monday.
Hakimi returned to training with PSG on Friday despite having a minor hamstring issue and could be in the squad to play Bayern Munich in the crucial Champions League 2nd leg match on Wednesday.