Paris Saint-Germain star defender Achraf Hakimi was accused of rape by a woman and was handed preliminary, French prosecutors said on Friday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Hakimi\u2019s lawyer, Fanny Colin, maintains her client “strongly denied accusations made against him” in a written message to The Associated Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n 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.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n