A Moroccan court has sentenced French rapper Maes to seven years in prison after finding him guilty of forming a criminal gang and attempting to kidnap a rival, according to local media reports on Wednesday.
Maes, born Walid Georgey and known for his Moroccan roots, was arrested in January upon arrival in Morocco after reportedly fleeing the United Arab Emirates, where he feared extradition to France. French authorities had earlier issued an international arrest warrant for him in connection with a separate criminal case.
The rapper appeared before a Moroccan court late Tuesday, where he was convicted of “forming a criminal organisation, attempted abduction and unlawful confinement”, news outlet TelQuel reported. Investigators alleged that Maes enlisted gang members and hired hitmen to kill a rival in Morocco, though the alleged plot was never carried out.
Maes, whose songs have accumulated over one billion views on YouTube, denied all charges. His lawyers described the case as “empty,” insisting that no evidence linked him to the other accused individuals, according to TelQuel.
Ten other defendants were also sentenced in the case, receiving prison terms ranging from one to ten years, Media24 reported.
AFP said it could not independently verify the details, noting that prosecutors were not immediately available for comment.
Maes, once among France’s most-streamed artists, has faced multiple legal troubles in recent years. In 2020, he was reportedly targeted in an extortion attempt in Sevran, his hometown north of Paris. A retaliatory shooting incident led him to flee with his family to Dubai.
Following the 2022 killing of his manager, Maes was also suspected of orchestrating reprisals against those he believed responsible, according to earlier French media reports.
