The Court of Instruction number 4 of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat has decided to archive the file opened against the rapper Morad, who since October 2022 was the subject of a precautionary measure which banned him from accessing the blocks of La Florida, his native neighborhood. The magistrate’s decision responds to the request of the public prosecutor who, in the qualification phase of the trial, considered that there was not enough evidence to pursue the accusation. In the absence of a private accusation, the interim filing was ordered and the restraining order became void.
Morad was arrested in October 2022 after being accused of inciting a group of young people to riot in Florida, including the container and vehicle fire. The events occurred after Morad and a group of 15 to 20 young people were near the blocks. The police intervention took place following complaints from neighbors regarding noise and nuisance. According to police reports, Morad allegedly offered 1,000 euros to the young people who accompanied him to “stone” the police cars that approached the scene. Shortly after, parked vehicles were reportedly on fire, leading to the rapper being charged with disturbing the peace.
However, the prosecutor’s office concluded that there is no conclusive evidence which demonstrate that Morad had some type of control or direct responsibility for the altercations. The magistrate followed this line, filing the case after not finding solid evidence to justify criminal proceedings. However, the resolution was sent to the Mossos d’Esquadra, who could impose administrative sanctions on Morad under the Citizen Security Law, better known as the “gag law.”
This case is just one of many legal fronts Morad faces. Inside last Aprilthe artist was sentenced to six months in prison for endanger road safety after being arrested for dangerous driving in 2022. Separately, in February, he accepted a two-year prison sentence for inciting a crowd to throw stones at police while recording a music video in L ‘Hospitalet in 2021, although this sentence was suspended with the condition that he does not commit new crimes for two years. Also in February, he agreed to compensate a Mossos d’Esquadra agent to the tune of 10,000 euros after having publicly slandered him on his social networks.
Despite numerous legal conflicts, Morad remains one of the most influential figures in urban music in Spain, with a large following among young people and a constantly growing career. Although the filing of this case alleviates one of his legal battles, The rapper still has other open fileslike the request for six years in prison that the prosecution filed for an altercation with Mossos agents in 2021, where he is accused of intimidating the police with a Taser defense after skipping curfew during the pandemic.
