Cheb Mami under arrest in Paris
2009-07-01
Years after allegations of violence first arose, Cheb Mami will finally appear in a French court on Thursday. The Algerian media remains cautiously optimistic.
By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers –01/07/09
 [AFP/Getty Images] Algerian music legend Cheb Mami is in a Paris jail awaiting trial on Thursday. |
French police on Monday evening (June 29th) arrested Algerian rai superstar Cheb Mami upon his arrival in Paris. After four years, an international tabloid stew involving a forced-abortion claim, an Interpol arrest warrant and a long legal battle will finally end on Thursday in a Bobigny courtroom.
Cheb Mami- aka Mohamed Khelifati- is accused of "acts of violence" towards his former partner Isabelle. In the summer of 2005, the victim, a 43-year-old press photographer who was covering his artistic activities, was allegedly drugged and forcibly held in the singer's Algiers villa, where two women and a man attempted to perform an abortion.
In 2007, the singer posted a bond of 200,000 euros in France and returned to Algeria. Since then, he has been wanted on an international arrest from Interpol, which demanded that Algeria extradite him to France to stand trial.
After the incident, the woman returned to France and lodged a complaint. She learned that the foetus was viable and decided to keep the child. Her daughter was born in March 2006.
Cheb Mami was arrested shortly after 7 pm at Orly airport as he got off a plane from Algeria. The border police were acting on an international warrant for his arrest.
Around 11 pm. a judge ruled that he should be held in jail until his Thursday trial.
The singer faces 10 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros. His former manager, Maurice Levy, must also appear on the same charges under a supervision order, along with his right-hand man, Hicham Lazaar, and Abdelkader Lallali – the man he is suspected of hiring.
In its June 30th edition, French weekly news magazine Le Point reported that Isabelle claims to have a recording proving that the singer was present at the time the acts of which he is accused took place. The weekly recalls that Mami, initially imprisoned for three months in Paris following the claims, was then released on bail after payment of 200,000 euros, "before then fleeing to Algeria in May 2007 while still under a supervision order".
Mami left France for Algeria while still under a supervision order to be at his ill mother's bedside, Tout sur l'Algérie retorted. Mami will prove that "he did nothing wrong, given that he has accepted to be present for the trial," the daily editorialised.
Cheb Mami told the Quotidien d'Oran in 2007 that he hoped to stand trial in Algeria because he did not trust the French legal system.
"I haven't run away from justice, I've run away from injustice. I've run away from a two-speed legal system," he declared at the time.
According to his lawyer, Khaled Labseur, Cheb Mami returned to France "to put his side of the facts behind this case".
Charges against Mami, however, could turn out to be more serious than previously thought, Le Matin d'Algérie cautioned, adding that he could spend "a long time in prison".
Email to a friend
Print version
coca cola 3amti lghoula Posted 2009-07-01
Thank you for the interesting information. Now I hate Cheb Mami.
hamoudi Posted 2009-07-02
The poor guy! He preferred prison in France to staying in the large open-air prison that is Algeria.
akriche Posted 2009-07-02
There you have it: everything was set up in advance. That is why he had to go to court and he is going to pay a fine and justice will be done. Life belongs to people who have money. - Thank you
CM Posted 2009-07-03
He is not paying too dearly for what amounts to attempted murder. He ought to be sent to prison for at least 15 years, castrated and deprived of his French citizenship - if he really has it - and sent to Algeria! Good riddance!
Cheb mami fan Posted 2009-07-04
Why always the hate. He realy was and is a great Rai singer... His songs are good, and if it is treu what he did, than he is a monster and he had to face AGAL YOUM... for what he did. The judge what he get in this life is notting.. by waht we had to face on that day... not you not me wil be in his place, every sheep will be hanging on his own leg when he is brought to slaughter... Who on Earth is without sin.. even we try hard every day.. nobody is... Only a bad name thats what he is putting on groups, by these terrible facts in publicity..
Ahmed Posted 2009-07-05
Hi. I hope this hardship will be overcome.
Lila Posted 2009-07-06
The courts were lenient. Maybe there was deal between Algiers and Paris. Mami was a friend of Bouteflika, visiting him at Val-de-Grâce. Why did he not appeal the case? This is fishy. In any case, what he did is inexcusable.
leila Posted 2009-07-06
I am very disappointed about Cheb Mami. I always loved him and was on his side. I found him modest and generous, especially when it came to his parents. But, alas, he disappointed me with the mask he wore. May God forgive you and give strength and courage to your mother.
Simone Al-Qassar Posted 2009-07-20
None of you can prove that he has committed the crime or ...that he has attempted murder. How dare you?? This is just being made a scandal because he is famous and has some money. Doesn't the French law have a 2 year statute of liimitations? Why did this women wait sooo long to say something... and if an abortion was attempted....wouldn't the fetus be deformed?? or mentally retarded. Wouldn't the women hemorage...bleeding to the point that she would need a Dr. or a hospital. Something is screwy here and I don't Blame Cheb for not trusting the French judicial system. Besides...that women is only after money. Why did she spread her legs and allow herself to get pregnant in the first place. She didn't claim she was raped... so there you have it. The responsiblity for not conceiving lies on the women. This is another scandal to get money as in the Michael Jackson case. Please...Know that the world is watching. Protect Cheb. He only is innocent himself and though he had a friend in Isabelle when in fact she was following him and using him. We are praying for him as God and the world watches You.
ak Posted 2009-07-23
Cheb Mami's actions (and the actions of that French woman) disgust me and caused me to delete and destroy all the music I own of his. I will not support an artist or better yet, a human being (if that's what you would call someone like him) who commits actions such as what he did. S-H-A-M-E-L-E-S-S! simone al qassar is an idiot in the purest form: "the responsibility of not conceiving lies in the woman's hands"?!!!????? Uh, how about the man closing his pants and the woman closing her legs you DUMB ****--anyway, I thought Cheb Mami was Muslim and Muslims aren't supposed to have sex outside of marriage?! What a great example he is!
KHAN Posted 2009-07-23
LOVE U CHEB MAMI
Rose Posted 2009-08-22
To me.... the Simone Al-Qassar's comment make sense.....too suspecious
homida Posted 4 days ago
dear all can some one explain to me what happen i cant believe.
We welcome your comments on Magharebia's articles.
It is our hope that you will use this forum to interact with other readers across the Maghreb. In order to keep this experience interesting, we ask you to follow the rules outlined in the comments policy. By submitting comments, you are consenting to these rules. While Magharebia.com encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. Magharebia.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published.
Magharebia's Comments Policy