The trial was postponed until June 5, 2024, as the prosecutor objected to the court judging the case without him.
The Paris criminal court issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday against Walid Georgey, alias Maes, a French rapper based in Dubai who did not appear in person at the trial where he was to appear for punches dating from 2018.
“The court had requested the personal appearance of WalidWalid Georgey”insisted the president of the 13th correctional chamber, Guillaume Daïeff, to justify the court’s decision which “believes that his apology is not valid.”
The artist’s lawyer, Me Diane de Condé, reiterated that the law allowed the defendant to be represented at his trial and pleaded for the court to judge the case in his absence.
“He is not here to evade his responsibilities (…) It is not necessary to issue an arrest warrant”she assured, detailing the “professional reasons” which kept his client in Dubai where he has lived since 2020: a “showcase” Monday evening and several days of recording in the studio this week.
“You don’t rent a studio the day you have to appear in court, he knew that his presence was essential”annoyed the prosecutor who objected to the court judging the case without him.
Victim compensated
The trial was postponed until June 5, 2024 and pending the hearing, the court issued an arrest warrant, in accordance with the requests of the public prosecutor.
Maes, 28, who is free (without judicial supervision) must be tried for violence in a meeting which resulted in six days of ITT (temporary incapacity for work), leaving a studio in September 2018 in Paris.
The rapper from Villepinte (Seine-Saint-Denis) has since compensated the victim who he had punched in the face. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed.
The victim has since withdrawn her complaint and has not filed a civil claim, which does not, however, extinguish the legal proceedings against the rapper.
Maes, who has released five albums, is due to give a concert in Paris, at Bercy, on February 16, 2024.