Arafat Abou-Chaker
More than four years in prison demanded for Bushido’s ex-manager
In October 2023, Arafat Abou-Chaker stands surrounded by his lawyers in the Higher Regional Court as a civil trial between him and the rapper Bushido continues
© Joerg Carstensen / DPA
The trial against rapper Bushido’s ex-manager Arafat Abou-Chaker is nearing its end. In their plea, the public prosecutor’s office is demanding a prison sentence of several years. Bushido is a witness and co-plaintiff in the criminal proceedings.
The public prosecutor’s office has demanded a total prison sentence of four years and four months for rapper Bushido’s ex-manager. From the point of view of Senior Public Prosecutor Petra Leister, the main allegations are against Arafat Abou-Chaker, who is considered a Berlin clan chief, confirmed as charged. The 47-year-old should be convicted of, among other things, attempted serious predatory extortion, deprivation of liberty, coercion as well as dangerous bodily harm and serious breach of trust, the public prosecutor demanded on Tuesday before the Berlin district court.
Co-defendants are three brothers of Bushido’s ex-partner. Total sentences ranging from seven months probation to two years and one month in prison were requested against them. The defendants remained silent about the allegations in court. They are all at large.
Bushido is a witness and co-plaintiff
Further arguments were planned for the afternoon of the 112th day of the trial. It was initially unclear whether the Berlin Regional Court’s original plan would remain that a verdict could be announced on January 26th in the almost three and a half year long trial.
The alleged acts are said to have occurred after the rapper dissolved relations with his manager in 2017. His former business partner did not want to accept the separation and demanded a payment of millions from the musician and participation in his business.
Bushido, whose real name is Anis Mohamed Ferchichi, is a witness and co-plaintiff in the criminal proceedings. A large part of the allegations are based on his statements. Before their pleadings, the defendants’ lawyers emphasized that Bushido and his wife Anna-Maria Ferchichi were not credible as witnesses and that a verdict could not be based on their testimony. The couple had, among other things, described in court that Arafat A.-Ch. have determined her life.