Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred is facing a major setback following a decision by the Criminal Court of Créteil in France to increase his prison sentence from six to 10 years, adding four years to the original sentence.
The court convicted Saad Lamjarred of rape under aggravated circumstances, citing the fact that the incident occurred while he was under the influence of alcohol. The victim Laura Prioul’s lawyer revealed the reasons behind the harsher sentence, despite the French public prosecutor’s request for an eight-year prison term. He said the decision was linked to what he described as the aggressive strategy adopted by Saad’s defense, including questioning the victim’s statements and attacking the investigators.
Media reports have revealed that Saad Lamjarred’s lawyers have one final legal step to attempt to prevent him from serving the sentence: filing an appeal before France’s Court of Cassation and seeking to establish that the appeals court failed to correctly apply French law. If the appeal is accepted, the case could be sent for a full retrial before a new appeals court. If it is rejected, the 10-year sentence would become final and legally binding.
Saad Lamjarred’s Father Breaks His Silence on His Son’s Sentence as the Family Faces a Difficult Time
Moroccan artist Bashir Abdou also broke his silence, commenting on the 10-year prison sentence handed down to his son Saad Lamjarred in a post on Facebook.
“My son Saad is innocent, innocent, innocent, in every sense of the word. It is an unjust ruling despite all the clear evidence presented by the defense team before the court and the public prosecutor,” he wrote.
He added: “The state that my wife Lalla Nezha, Saad’s wife, her mother, his friend Issam and Shama, and all of us are in is something only God knows.”
There have also been reports that Saad Lamjarred’s wife, Ghita El Alaki, has been going through a difficult emotional period following the ruling against her husband, particularly as she is reportedly in the final month of her pregnancy with twins.
Moroccan Stars Show Their Support for Saad Lamjarred
Several Moroccan stars have broken their silence to express their support for their colleague Saad Lamjarred during this difficult time.
Among them was Moroccan singer and actor Hatim Ammor, who shared a message of support for Saad via his Instagram Stories.
“May God bring about a good outcome and ease this difficult situation for you, my brother Saad. Our prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. May God give you strength,” he wrote.
Moroccan artist Najat Rajawi also offered words of support to Saad Lamjarred through her Instagram Stories, writing: “There is neither strength nor power except through God. May God ease this hardship for you, my brother. May God grant your family and Ghita patience. Amen.”
