Controversial Rhumba artiste stares Jail-term in the face

A controversial Congolese musician faces 7 years in prison over sexual offences committed against his crew.

Koffi Olomide, 62, is standing trial for allegedly sexually assaulting four former dancers who say they were held against their will at a villa outside Paris.

The Rhumba maestro also appeared before the court of Nanterre, near Paris, for facilitating the entry and illegal stay in France of the plaintiffs.

He is said to have committed offences ranging from violence, coercion and kidnapping. These were allegedly committed in Paris between 2002 and 2006.

String of cases

The case is the latest addition that the Selfie hitmaker has to answer to this year. He has, however, denied all the charges accusing him of committing any offence.

In 2008, he kicked a cameraman in Kinshasa, assaulted his producer in 2012-where he received a three-month suspended sentence.

Less than three years ago, he was arrested and deported from Kenya after camera footage showed Mopao kicking one of his dancers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

More trouble

But more trouble would await Olomide upon arrival in Kinshasa where he was apprehended by the police and locked up for two days over the incident.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, a charge that was reduced to three months after the intervention of the Congolese head of state.

Zambia charges

He also happens to be the subject of a judicial process in the Zambia, where he was previously barred from entering.

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