Saad Lamjarred and the French Courts: The Cases Explained

Saad Lamjarred is one of Morocco's most internationally known pop singers, but during the past decade his career has also been closely followed because of several serious legal cases in France.

The legal history can be confusing because it involves separate allegations, different courts and ongoing appeals.

This is what the French court record and major court reporting show. For related PRESDA coverage of public figures under intense media attention, read our Paparazzi coverage and our factual profile of Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau.

The 2016 Paris Case

The first major French case began in October 2016.

A French woman, Laura P., accused Lamjarred of raping and assaulting her after they met at a nightclub in Paris and later went to a hotel.

Lamjarred denied the accusations.

After years of investigation and legal proceedings, the case eventually reached the Paris Assize Court.

The 2023 Paris Verdict

On February 24, 2023, the Paris Assize Court found Lamjarred guilty of rape and violence in connection with the 2016 incident.

He was sentenced to six years in prison.

The court issued an immediate detention order.

Lamjarred continued to deny the allegations and appealed the verdict shortly afterward.

Because of the appeal, the case entered a new stage of proceedings rather than ending with the first verdict.

Release Pending Appeal

In April 2023, a Paris appeals court granted Lamjarred release under judicial supervision while he waited for his appeal trial.

His 2023 conviction was not erased by that decision.

It remained the first-instance judgment while the appeal process continued.

As of September 2026, available reporting indicated that the appeal trial in the Paris case was still pending.

The Separate Saint-Tropez Case

Lamjarred also faced a separate case involving events in Saint-Tropez in August 2018.

A woman said she had met him at a nightclub and later went with him to his hotel.

She accused him of rape.

Lamjarred maintained that the sexual encounter was consensual.

The case proceeded separately from the Paris case.

The 2026 Draguignan Verdict

On May 15, 2026, the Assize Court in Draguignan convicted Lamjarred of rape in the Saint-Tropez case and sentenced him to five years in prison.

The prosecution had requested a ten-year sentence.

The court also ordered him to pay EUR30,000 in damages and EUR5,000 in legal costs to the complainant, according to French court reporting.

Lamjarred had appeared at the trial as a free man.

The court did not issue an immediate detention warrant after the verdict, according to reports of the judgment.

Lamjarred Appeals Again

Lamjarred appealed the five-year sentence on May 21, 2026.

That means the Saint-Tropez case also remains subject to further judicial proceedings.

He continues to deny committing rape.

Two Separate French Cases

The most important point is that the Paris and Saint-Tropez cases are separate.

Paris: alleged events in October 2016, verdict in February 2023, six-year sentence, Lamjarred appealed, and appeal proceedings remained pending in 2026.

Saint-Tropez: alleged events in August 2018, verdict on May 15, 2026, five-year sentence, and Lamjarred appealed on May 21, 2026.

An appeal means a judgment can be reviewed by another court. It should not be described as an acquittal or as a final confirmation unless a later court has actually issued such a decision.

The 2026 Extortion Case

A separate legal development also emerged around the Paris case.

In April 2026, a Paris criminal court convicted five people in connection with an attempted EUR3 million extortion scheme targeting Lamjarred.

Laura P., the complainant in the 2016 rape case, was acquitted in that separate extortion proceeding.

That case does not itself cancel or overturn Lamjarred's 2023 conviction.

The rape appeal and the extortion case are legally distinct proceedings.

Where The Cases Stand

As of September 2026, the clearest description is this: Saad Lamjarred has been convicted in two separate French rape cases at trial-court level.

He has appealed both judgments.

The 2023 Paris conviction carried a six-year sentence.

The 2026 Saint-Tropez conviction carried a five-year sentence.

Because appeals remain part of the judicial process, PRESDA should not describe either case as finally resolved unless a later authoritative court decision confirms that status.

The cases remain among the most closely watched legal controversies involving a major Arab music star.