A second woman has filed a complaint of rape against rapper Lomepal - real name Antoine Valentinelli - who was confronted by his accusers during police custody last week as part of a preliminary investigation targeting him in Paris, AFP learned on Wednesday from sources close to the matter.
After these confrontations, the singer's
"custody measure"
was
"lifted for continuation of preliminary investigations"
, indicated the Paris prosecutor's office, requested by AFP.
The investigations were launched after the filing, in 2020, of a complaint from an acquaintance of the rapper, who accused him of having raped her in 2017 in New York.
The second woman filed a complaint at the end of 2023, denouncing acts of rape in 2018, which took place in France, according to two of the sources close to the case.
In both cases, the facts would have taken place
“at the home of the complainants”
, added another source close to the case.
The criminal classification of the alleged facts is widely subject to debate.
The rest of the investigation will establish his innocence
The lawyers of Lomepal, Mes Laffont and Benedetti
Summoned on Tuesday February 27, the French rap phenomenon, 32 years old and three million monthly listeners on the Spotify music platform, was placed in police custody in the premises of the 3rd district of the judicial police in Paris, before being released. emerge free the next day, according to a source close to the case.
“Our client will not speak for the moment, because he wants to let justice work peacefully
,” his lawyers, Jacqueline Laffont and Julie Benedetti, reacted to AFP.
“He was heard at length, was able to respond precisely and provide decisive material elements
,” they assured.
“The criminal classification of the alleged facts is largely subject to debate”
, his counsel further estimated, affirming that
“the continuation of the investigation will make it possible to establish his innocence”
.
Concert canceled
At the beginning of August, after the investigation was revealed in the press, the singer spoke on his Instagram account.
“Did I force anyone to do anything?
No.
Have there been any illegal things?
No.
And I will never let him say it
,” he wrote.
The rapper performed at the Electronic Beaches festival in Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes) a few days later.
On the other hand, the Cabaret Vert festival in Charleville-Mézières (Ardennes) had canceled its concert planned for mid-August, considering
“that a time of retreat and silence (was necessary)”
although the presumption of innocence was
“ a fundamental principle
.
Antoine Valentinelli began his career as an artist in 2010. In 2017, his first album,
“Flip”
made him a star.
His latest album
“Bad Order”
was released in 2022.