Court Cuts Maes Sentence to One Year
A Moroccan appeals court reduced the French-Moroccan rapper's seven-year prison term, clearing him for immediate release.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Hip-Hop and Rap
Live Poll
Do you think celebrity defendants get fairer treatment from courts than ordinary people?
The Tangier Court of Appeal reduced the seven-year sentence of French-Moroccan rapper Maes, whose real name is Walid Georgey, to one year on charges of attempted kidnapping and forming a criminal gang. He was cleared for immediate release after nearly two years in custody.
Why it matters
The ruling ends a high-profile case that began when Maes was arrested on arrival in Morocco after fleeing the United Arab Emirates to avoid possible extradition to France. The outcome highlights how cross-border arrest warrants and sentencing decisions can shape the fate of internationally known artists.
The Tangier Court of Appeal cut the original seven-year sentence to one year, six years less than first imposed. Maes, who has more than a billion YouTube views, spent nearly two years in custody before the ruling.
The players
Maes
Maes is a French-Moroccan rapper, real name Walid Georgey, with over a billion YouTube views whose sentence was reduced on appeal.
Tangier Court of Appeal
The Tangier Court of Appeal is the Moroccan appellate court that reduced Maes's seven-year sentence to one year.
The details
The ruling was handed down Thursday by the Tangier Court of Appeal, which convicted Maes on attempted kidnapping and gang-formation charges. Maes was arrested in January 2025 upon arrival in Morocco after leaving the United Arab Emirates, where France had sought his extradition over an alleged plot to hire hitmen to murder a rival.
Timeline
January 2025: Maes is arrested upon arriving in Morocco after fleeing the United Arab Emirates.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: The Tangier Court of Appeal reduces his sentence to one year and clears him for release.
Legal Context
Cases involving cross-border arrest warrants, like France's warrant against Maes issued after he fled the United Arab Emirates, often turn on extradition and appellate review. The sharp reduction on appeal departs from the original seven-year term.
With his sentence reduced to one year and immediate release ordered, Maes is expected to be free to resume his career and online presence. Fans in regions where his YouTube content is available can continue to access it as before.
The takeaway
A sentence cut by six years on appeal shows that a first-instance verdict is not necessarily final, and that appellate courts can substantially change the outcome of cross-border criminal cases.
Further reading
For more on artists and courtroom battles, see Hip-Hop and Rap.
Live Poll
Do you think celebrity defendants get fairer treatment from courts than ordinary people?
