By RFIPalled on 03-18-2019 Modified on 18-03-2019 at 17:26
Koffi Olomide was sentenced to 2 years in prison suspended for sexual abuse on a minor of 15 years. This is much less than the 7 years that were required at the trial. The court found that the accusations of the four complainants were unproven. A victory for the singer's relatives who was not present.
" A real relief, " said Robert Olomide, the brother of the singer from the DRC at the end of the hearing. Congolese singer Koffi Olomide has been sentenced by French justice to two years in prison suspended for " sexual abuse on minor " under 15 years. Seven years in prison were required against the rumba star on February 11th. Four of his dancers accused him of "sexual abuse with violence, coercion, threat or surprise by authoritative person" for events occurred in the Paris region between 2002 and 2006.
Defended by Emmanuel Marsigny and Eric Dupond-Moretti, the star of the Congolese rumba was absent at the hearing, just like last February. The singer " will be able to recover his freedom of movement and, I hope, very soon to be able to see his public in France which awaits him with a lot of impatience ", welcomed his lawyer, relieved to see the condemnation well in below what was required by the prosecutor.
None of the four complainants had made the trip. They had lodged a complaint in 2007, 2009 and 2013 accusing Koffi Olomide of sexually assaulting them, at the hotel or at the recording studio more often, without a condom and slapping them when they were struggling. They never returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo for fear of reprisals.
(With agencies)
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