Mbappé Submits New Statement to French Judiciary Clarifying Hakimi Case Testimony

Kylian Mbappé has submitted a new written statement to French judicial authorities, aiming to clarify the content of his previous testimony in the case concerning rape allegations against Achraf Hakimi. This move comes as part of the defense's efforts to provide a more precise context for the conversations that took place between the players regarding the incident, following differing legal interpretations of the initial testimony.

In his new document, Mbappé focused on correcting the precision of the terms used when relaying Hakimi's account, stating that he mentioned "some intimate areas" rather than "intimate areas" when describing the mutual touches between the two parties.

This clarification seeks to refute previous conclusions and counter the interpretation relied upon by the investigating judge, who considered the initial testimony to contain an explicit reference to touches of a sexual nature that supported the prosecution's position.

Through this clarification, the defense emphasized that Mbappé's statements should not be understood as incriminating evidence against Hakimi. In this context, Mbappé relayed in his testimony what transpired between him and his teammate, stating: "Achraf told me they exchanged kisses, and I asked him if he had done anything bad to her. He replied that there were mutual touches in some intimate areas without him feeling any refusal from the young woman."

For her part, Rachel Flore Pardo, the plaintiff's lawyer, downplayed the significance of this legal step, explaining: "This testimony, submitted at the request of the defense, contradicts previous statements made before investigators. It is clear that it will not convince the judges and holds no value in the course of the case."

These developments coincide with the appeal phase against the investigating judge's decision, which previously ruled to refer Achraf Hakimi to the criminal court. The investigating chamber is currently reviewing the case to determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial. It is worth noting that authorities had heard Mbappé's testimony as a witness in April 2023 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, while the previous judge's decision was based on text messages provided by the plaintiff as part of the evidence.