Hakimi Seeks Dismissal Of Rape Case Ahead Of Versailles Court Hearing

Paris Saint-Germain defender and Morocco international Achraf Hakimi has asked a French court to dismiss a rape case against him as he appeared before judges in Versailles on Friday, AFP reported, citing a source close to the matter.

The 27-year-old footballer is facing allegations relating to an incident in 2023, when a 24-year-old woman accused him of rape. The case, which has been under investigation since February 2023, is now moving through France’s judicial process.

According to the report, the hearing before the Versailles appeals court, west of Paris, is expected to determine whether Hakimi’s request for dismissal or reduction of the charge will be granted. If rejected, the matter will proceed to trial on a date yet to be fixed.

Hakimi has consistently denied the allegations. His lawyer, Fanny Colin, declined to comment ahead of Friday’s proceedings.

At an earlier hearing, Colin argued that the accusation “rests solely on the word of a woman” and criticised what she described as gaps in the complainant’s cooperation with investigators, including refusal of medical examinations and DNA testing.

Police accounts cited in earlier reports indicated that the complainant said she met Hakimi via Instagram in January 2023 and later visited his residence in a taxi arranged by him. She alleged that he made unwanted advances before raping her, after which she left and contacted a friend who picked her up.

Hakimi, who joined PSG from Inter Milan in 2021 after spells at Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, has not made any public statement on the latest hearing.

The case comes as the defender continues to feature prominently for PSG and remains expected to be part of Morocco’s national squad for upcoming international fixtures.