His fans will have to be patient. Rapper Maes, alias Walid Georgey, postponed his concert scheduled for February 16 due to an arrest warrant issued against him by the Paris Criminal Court on October 10, report our colleagues from Le Parisien. 15,000 places have already been sold for this event which should finally take place on December 19, 2024.
“Such a warrant poses a risk of incarceration, the artist has decided not to maintain his showcase and concert dates initially planned in order not to disappoint his listeners in the event of execution of this arrest warrant,” wrote the Maes team in a text sent to Le Parisien.
The rapper was to appear for violence in a meeting leading to six days of total incapacity for work (ITT), committed when leaving a Parisian 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 The victim has since withdrawn her complaint and has not filed a civil claim, which does not, however, extinguish the legal proceedings against the rapper.
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“The court had requested the personal appearance of Mr. Walid Georgey,” insisted the president of the 13th criminal chamber, Guillaume Daïeff, considering that “(the) excuses (of the rapper) are not valid.” Maes had indicated that he could not be present because of a showcase and the reservation of a studio to record music. “You don’t rent a studio on the day you have to appear in court, he knew that his presence was essential,” reacted the prosecutor.
The artist’s lawyer, Me Diane de Condé, for her part repeated 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 avoid his responsibilities (…) It is not necessary to issue an arrest warrant,” she assured in October. The case has been adjourned until June 5, 2024 and pending hearing. His lawyer told Le Parisien that this time he will be present to appear.
