On Friday, January 24, 2025, the preliminary investigation into rapes targeting rapper Lomepal was closed. According to a plaintiff's lawyer, a new complaint could, however, be filed.
© VANSTEENKISTE STEPHANE / BESTIMAGE Rapper Lomepal in concert at the Main Square Festival in Arras.
IN BRIEF
- Between 2020 and 2024, three women accused rapper Lomepal, aka Antoine Valentinelli, of sexual assault, accusations he denied.
- On January 24, the preliminary investigation for rape was closed by the Paris prosecutor's office due to lack of sufficient evidence.
- A plaintiff could relaunch the case with a new complaint, while Lomepal claims his innocence and wants to turn the page.
This is a case that has caused a lot of noise. Between 2020 and 2024, three women filed a complaint against the rapper Lomepal, whose real name is Antoine Valentinelli, for sexual assault. Facts immediately denied by the main person concerned.
Several months after the filing of these complaints, the case took a new twist. Indeed, on Friday, January 24, the preliminary investigation for rape was closed. The Paris prosecutor's office believes that the facts could not be “clearly established” during the investigations.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000A complainant plans to file a new complaint
The first complaint against Lomepal was filed in 2020 for facts that allegedly occurred in 2017 in New York. Three years later, a second woman reported rape in 2018 in France. Finally, the third complaint was filed in May 2024.
After the announcement of the closure of the investigation, the lawyer of the second complainant, Sacha Ghozlan spoke out. He thus revealed that she plans to file a new complaint, this time with a civil action. This would allow the investigations to be restarted by obtaining the referral to an investigating judge. “The prosecution is not saying that the offence did not take place, but that the facts are old and there is not enough evidence to refer the matter to a court of trial”, he said.
Lomepal reacted after the investigation was closed
If a new complaint could soon &be filed, Lomepal wanted to react to the ranking of the investigation. After months of silence, the rapper spoke out on his Instagram account. “Serious things have been told. They have not been distorted or exaggerated, they just didn't happen at all”, he said.
The one who considers himself “innocent” in this case then wanted to emphasize that his whole life has been “searched” by investigators. He explained: “I answered questions for three days, my loved ones, my family, my exes, my friends, everyone was questioned”. Now, the rapper hopes to be able to resume his life.