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Blackmail trial against Bushido’s ex-manager: acquittal for Arafat Abou-Chaker
The times when rapper Bushido and his ex-manager stood together on the red carpet are over. Their separation has been going on in court for years. Now a verdict has been made.
The trial against Rapper’s ex-manager lasted around three and a half years Bushido lasted – on Monday the Berlin Regional Court pronounced its verdict: Arafat Abou-Chaker was acquitted of the main allegations. The Berlin regional court did not consider it proven that the 47-year-old wanted to blackmail the musician into paying millions. The judges sentenced Arafat Abou-Chaker, who is considered the Berlin clan boss, to a fine of 81,000 euros (90 daily rates of 900 euros each) for 13 cases of unauthorized tape recordings.
The prosecution accused Arafat Abou-Chaker and his brothers of, among other things, attempted serious extortion, deprivation of liberty, coercion, grievous bodily harm and serious breach of trust.
From the perspective of the public prosecutor, the main allegations have been confirmed. She has requested a total sentence of four years, three months and one week in prison for the 47-year-old, who is considered the Berlin clan boss. His lawyers do not believe any of the crimes that are said to have happened to rapper Bushido (45) have been proven. They demanded an acquittal.
The main defendant is also charged with a series of unauthorized tape recordings. Arafat Abou-Chaker admitted this shortly before the end of the trial.
Co-defendants were three brothers of Bushido’s ex-partner, aged 42, 46 and 53. Total sentences ranging from seven months probation to two years and one month in prison were requested against them. Their lawyers also requested an acquittal.
The majority of the allegations are based on statements made by Bushido
Bushido, whose real name is Anis Mohamed Ferchichi, is a witness and co-plaintiff in the criminal proceedings. A large part of the allegations against his long-time business partner and the co-defendant are based on the statements of the rapper, who now lives with his family in Dubai. According to his lawyer, the musician did not want to travel to the verdict.
The focus of the proceedings was an incident on January 18, 2018, in which Bushido was said to have been held against his will. He is said to have been attacked with a water bottle and a chair thrown at him.
The alleged acts are said to have occurred after Bushido severed relations with Arafat Abou-Chaker in 2017. His ex-manager did not want to accept the separation and demanded a payment of millions from the musician and participation in his business for 15 years.
Prominent witnesses from the rapper scene
The court has tried to resolve the case on 113 days of hearings since August 2020. The process took place under strict security precautions. Some saw this as a long-awaited blow to clan crime because Bushido showed no fear. This is different in many trials against members of large families who are linked to organized crime.
The term clan crime is controversial because, according to critics, it stigmatizes and discriminates against people with a migrant background based solely on their family affiliation and origin.
More than 60 witnesses were heard, including prominent rappers such as Samra, Fler, Ali Bumaye and Kay One. The focus of the statements, however, was the interrogation of Bushido and his wife Anna-Maria Ferchichi, which lasted many days. They painted the picture of a “forced marriage” with the main defendant.
From the defense’s perspective, the couple’s statements are not credible. The rapper is a good entertainer, said lawyer Hansgeorg Birkhoff. “What he says comes across fine. But does that mean what he says is true?”