A Moroccan court has sentenced French rapper Maes, born Walid Georgey, to seven years in prison on charges linked to forming a criminal gang and attempting to kidnap a rival, according to local media reports.
The rapper, who has Moroccan roots, was arrested in January after arriving in the country from the United Arab Emirates. Reports indicate he left the UAE fearing possible extradition to France, where authorities had issued an international arrest warrant for him in a separate criminal investigation.
Maes appeared before a Moroccan court late Tuesday, where he was found guilty of “forming a criminal organisation, attempted abduction and unlawful confinement,” news outlet TelQuel reported. The publication also claimed prosecutors accused him of recruiting gang members and hitmen to kill a rival, an alleged plot that was ultimately unsuccessful.
The artist, known for amassing more than a billion views on YouTube, has denied all allegations. His legal team described the case as “empty,” insisting that no credible evidence linked him to the other defendants.
Ten additional suspects were also convicted in the case, receiving prison sentences ranging from one to ten years, according to Media24.
AFP reported that it was unable to independently verify the details, as prosecutors could not be reached for confirmation.
Maes has faced past legal troubles. In 2020, at the height of his popularity in France, he was reportedly targeted in an extortion attempt in Sevran, a suburb of Paris, leading to a shootout after he opened fire with weapons at his home. He later moved to Dubai with his family. Following the 2022 killing of his manager, reports alleged he may have sought reprisals against those he believed were responsible.
The latest conviction marks a significant escalation in the rapper’s ongoing legal challenges.
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