King of Pop of the Arab world convicted of rape in France, appealed - and his sentence was increased

The Court of Appeals in Créteil sentenced Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred, known as the "King of Pop of the Arab world," to 10 years in prison after convicting him of aggravated rape. The sentence is a significant increase from the 6 years imposed by the lower court in 2023. The case began in 2016 with a complaint filed by a 20-year-old woman.

The Court of Appeals in Créteil, southeast of Paris, sentenced Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred, 41, known as the "King of Pop of the Arab world," to ten years in prison after convicting him of aggravated rape. The verdict includes an order for Lamjarred to be immediately incarcerated. The sentence represents a significant increase from the six-year prison term imposed by the lower court in 2023. The case began in 2016, when Laura Briual, then 20, filed a complaint against Lamjarred, accusing him of raping her in a Paris hotel after they met at a nightclub. The prosecution sought an eight-year sentence, but the court imposed a harsher penalty than requested. The victim's lawyer believed the increased sentence stemmed, in part, from an aggressive defense strategy toward his client, which included repeatedly casting doubt on her account and criticizing the investigators. Lamjarred's lawyer described the verdict as "very surprising" and argued that there is no physical evidence or medical findings supporting the conviction.