Rapper Moha La Squale, whose real name is Mohamed Bellhamed, was taken into custody in Paris on Friday after being arrested in Germany. He is accused of rape against a partner, sexual assault, domestic violence, and death threats to a partner. Moha La Squale, 28, was placed in provisional detention after being arrested on a European arrest warrant on December 31 in Germany, near the Polish border. He had been on the run for several weeks and had fled to Germany while he was supposed to be under house arrest with electronic surveillance in Paris. He was extradited to the French authorities and was questioned by an examining magistrate on Friday before appearing before a judge who put him in provisional detention, as requested by the public prosecutor. His lawyer, Ms. Elise Arfi, declined to comment.
The rapper has been under investigation since June 2021 for sexual assault and violence against former partners. In July 2022, he was also indicted for rape, a criminal charge, against another ex-partner. According to a source close to the case, the investigation had ended “a few months ago.” At least six women have filed complaints. Since the conclusion of the investigation, the parties involved in the case can make observations before the public prosecutor makes his case. One woman, who had requested that the justice hold him responsible for attempted murder, claimed that Moha La Squale had tried to suffocate her with a pillow and verbally threatened to kill her. In April 2021, Moha La Squale had denied the allegations, stating that he had “never, I repeat NEVER raised a hand against a woman” and had claimed that the allegations were part of a “conspiracy” to harm him.
