Moroccan King Mohammed VI has promised to pay for the legal representation of pop singer Saad Lamjarred who is facing rape charges in France, according to the Independent.
Lamjarred, a renowned Moroccan pop artist, was arrested on October 26th for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman in his hotel room in Paris. He was set to perform at the Palace of Congress in Paris on October 29th but remains in police custody awaiting sentencing.
King Mohammed VI wrote to Lamjarred’s family, informing them that French lawyer Eric Dupond Morreti will be representing the singer and he (the King) will cover the costs.
“This is a favorable response to a request from the family of the singer who sought his majesty’s intervention, and with respect for the presumption of innocence, the Moroccan embassy in France, reads the statement.
Serial Rapist?
Lamjarred is reportedly facing another rape case in the United States, where he is accused of raping and beating up a woman in his Brooklyn apartment in 2010, according to Morocco World News.
At the time, the Moroccan pop star was arrested and indicted, and after posting bail, he immediately fled from the United States and is yet to return.
For the alleged Paris incident, reports indicate that Lamjarred was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Lamjarred’s friend and popular Moroccan fashion designer Issam Washmeh posted a video on YouTube on behalf of Lamjarred apologizing to his fans and assuring them that he is innocent of the rape allegations, according to Al Arabiya.
He also thanked his followers for their support and asked them to continue trusting and supporting the artist. And while Lamjarred’s defense team initially pleaded with the French court to release him on bail, the appeal was reportedly denied.
Award-Winning Singer
Over the past few years, Lamjarred has won the hearts of many in the Arab world with his sensational songs, such as “Lamaalem,” which reached 100,000,000 views on YouTube within three months of its release.
Watch “Lamaalem” here:
Currently, the song has more than 400,000,000 YouTube views, which is a new record for an Arab song. The captivating song has earned him a Guinness World Record achievement.
The 31-year-old artist is also a recipient of the Meditel Morocco Music Awards 2014 and a nominee for the Best Middle East Act at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards.
