The Swedish Prosecution Authority has announced the closure of the inquiry into rape allegations against French footballer Kylian Mbappé, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed.
The allegations, which drew international attention, had cast a shadow over Mbappé’s career.
However, the football star, who has consistently denied the allegations, has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The case, which began earlier this year, involved accusations stemming from an alleged incident in Stockholm.
Mbappé’s legal team had stated that his commitment to due process was strong, and his lawyer, Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard, had stated that he intended to reserve any explanations for the Swedish justice system “if necessary.”
The prosecutor’s decision not to press charges marks the end of months of scrutiny and speculation.
In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova said there was not enough evidence to continue the investigation, which centred on an incident at a hotel in the Swedish capital.
“During the course of the investigation, there has been a designated person suspected on reasonable grounds of rape and two cases of sexual assault, but my assessment is that the evidence is not sufficient to proceed, and the investigation is therefore closed.”
Chirakova said. “The designated person has not been notified of suspicion of a crime.”
Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation, but many Swedish media reported that it was Real Madrid striker Mbappé, who visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league.
Mbappé has yet to make an official statement regarding the decision.
The closure of the investigation is a significant development in the case, and it remains to be seen how it will impact Mbappé’s career and reputation.
Author
Leave a comment