Achraf Hakimi has been slapped with a formal indictment request on shocking rape charges. Achraf Hakimi has once more found himself in the crosshairs of a legal storm. Just days after being spotted yachting in Island of Puerto Rico, the 26-year-old Moroccan has returned to the headlines over the rape case that broke the internet, shortly before his divorce from Hiba Abouk. What’s the gossip? According to French publication Le Parisien, the Nanterre prosecutor's office has formally requested that Hakimi be indicted before the Hauts-de-Seine departmental criminal court on charges of rape. This final indictment, signed on 1st August, marks a significant escalation in a case that dates back to February 2023. Hakimi has vehemently and consistently denied these charges. Back in 2023, Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin previously stated the PSG star had cooperated with investigators on the case. "The accusations are false. He is calm and is making himself available to the authorities.", Collins was quoted to have said as at the time per Le Parisien. Meanwhile, Rachel Flore Pardo, the lawyer for the alleged victim, told AFP News Agency: "My client maintains everything that she said. She made the choice to speak exclusively to prosecutors and does not want the affair to become a media issue, mainly to protect her safety." However, the next crucial step lies with the investigating judge, who will either confirm or reject the terms of the prosecution's request. Join our WhatsApp channel for live updates on Sports and to stay informed Should the case proceed to trial and he is convicted of rape, the Atlas Lions star currently tipped to win this year’s Ballon d’Or awards, faces a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years. Achraf Hakimi’s rape case EXPLAINED Pulse Sports earlier reported the allegations stem from a statement made by a 24-year-old woman to the Hauts-de-Seine territorial security police. She recounted meeting the renowned footballer through private messages on Instagram. After virtual exchanges spanning over a month, she travelled to Hakimi's home in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, for a first physical encounter on a Friday evening, arriving via an Uber vehicle reportedly ordered by the player. Upon her arrival, the situation allegedly took a distressing turn. The complainant asserts that Hakimi kissed her on the mouth and breasts through her clothes, despite her expressed lack of consent. She reportedly protested to the player, but he allegedly continued his advances, culminating in forced sexual intercourse. After the alleged assault, she purportedly managed to push the player away with her foot, enabling her escape from the premises. In a state of shock, she immediately texted a friend, asking to be picked up. Her friend subsequently corroborated the alleged victim's account and condition to the police. The alleged incident occurred while Hakimi's estranged wife Hiba Abouk and their two sons were away on on holiday in Dubai. Subsequently, Abouk released a statement pledging solidarity with victims of sexual assault, after brandishing her marriage to the footballer, a "failed project." “After having taken the decision to legally separate and to stop living together whilst awaiting the divorce procedure, which you can imagine, on top of the pain brought about by the separation, as well as having to accept the sadness that a failed project, which I gave my body and soul, brings, I was supposed to face up to this disgraceful act? I needed time to come to terms with this shock,” the Spanish-Tunisian actress said in the statement as first reported by the Spanish newspaper El Pais. “One must trust the legal process, especially considering the gravity of the accusation. Nonetheless, in my life, I always have been, and always will be, on the side of victims,” she added. However, it is not confirmed that the rape case was the reason behind their widely-publicised divorce, as it was revealed their marriage was already in a crisis months before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Achraf Hakimi's defence: Claims of backmail and betrayal In a previous interview on the popular YouTube programme ABTalks, hosted by Anas Bukhash, Hakimi publicly addressed the viral allegations for the first time, openly declaring his innocence and claiming he was the target of a sinister plot. "I will be honest with you. Regarding this, it’s the first time I speak about it with anyone!" Hakimi began, emphasising the gravity of his disclosure. "Because since this incident two years ago, I haven’t said an opinion or anything….and I said, we left this matter to the courts…and it’s the best way to explain things." Hakimi spoke on how his immense success had, in his view, made him an "easy target." He explained: "As we say, when you achieve success and things go well, you become an easy target for all! That taught me that I shouldn’t trust a lot of people around me." The Morocco international revealed that he and his legal team firmly believe the allegations were a ploy for financial gain, as he stated: "When we left this matter to the court, we saw it was just a way of blackmail. “They wanted to blackmail me, that’s why we filed a lawsuit and we won. The court handled the matter with efficiency, and we were able to quickly resolve it so everyone will know the truth and we can speak about the topic easily." Hakimi revealed the highly publicised ordeal has left him with profound trust issues. "But this incident taught me to trust few people in my circle," he confessed. "That means I can’t trust a lot of people, and I should be careful in this world." However, despite his statements, the prosecutor's recent indictment request suggests the legal process is far from over. The coming months will be critical as the investigating judge deliberates, determining whether Achraf Hakimi will indeed face a full criminal trial for the grave charges levelled against him.