The trial of Saïd Chabane, owner of the Angers football club (L2) prosecuted for aggravated sexual assault, which was to be held on Wednesday, was postponed to December 18 and 19.
The Angers Criminal Court decided on this referral at the request of the defense of the defendant, who contested the choice to schedule the trial for less than a day of hearing.
“From our point of view, more hearing time is necessary,” said Me Pascal Rouiller, one of Mr. Chabane’s two lawyers.
This additional time should make it possible to hear about fifteen witnesses cited by the defense, to project photos and videos and to carry out additional investigations, according to the lawyer.
Saïd Chabane, who was not present at the hearing, remains under judicial supervision until the trial is held.
Owner of Angers SCO since 2011, Saïd Chabane handed over the presidency of the club to his son Romain in March.
He had been indicted in February 2020 for aggravated sexual assault following complaints from young women, who were his employees at the club or in his delicatessen business at the time of the facts denounced.
In a statement, the prosecution had then referred to “caresses very pressed on the private parts”.
A total of seven young women filed civil suits.
Saïd Chabane must also be tried before the Bobigny Criminal Court from March 25 to 29, 2024 for illegal exercise of the activity of sports agent and money laundering in an organized gang.
Sportingly, his club had a disastrous season, beating an old elite record with 13 defeats in a row this winter and finishing at the bottom, relegated to Ligue 2.