ALGERIAN SINGER MAMI GETS FIVE YEAR SENTENCE
Algerian-born singer CHEB MAMI has been sentenced to five years in jail for attempting to force an ex-girlfriend to abort their unborn child.
Mami was taken into custody by officials at a Paris, France airport as he arrived into the country from Algeria on Monday (29Jun09) to face trial for the 2005 assault against his ex-partner, ending two years on the run.
The star - real name is Mohamed Khelifati - remained in custody after the verdict was read out on Friday (03Jul09).
Prosecutors alleged that in 2005 the unnamed woman was kept in a house in Algiers, which belonged to a friend of the singer, where two doctors attempted to carry out an abortion on her.
The woman returned to France and learned that her foetus was still alive. She went on to have the little girl, now three years old.
Officials in France issued an international warrant for Mami’s arrest last May (08) following his 2006 indictment for "voluntary violence, sequestration and threats". Mami skipped bail and failed to heed an order to appear in court in 2007. Interpol formally asked Algeria to hand over the 42 year old in January (09).
In addition to his sentence, the star’s two aides, Hicham Lazaar and Abdelkader Lallali, were given three and six years in jail respectively.
His former manager Michel Lecorre - also known as Michel Levy - was also sentenced to four years for plotting and organising the assault.
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
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