Manchester City’s Benjamin Mendy faces another rape charge

Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy is in deeper waters after being charged with another count of rape. Currently, he faces seven counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault, related to five women.

The 27-year-old French international was charged due to the latest offence last week. However, there were some reporting restrictions in place, which were ultimately lifted at the time Mendy appeared at the Chester Crown Court for his hearing, scheduled to take place before the trial. 

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While the earlier charges are based on incidents that took place between October 2020 and August 2021, this latest one allegedly took place in July 2021. It is also related to a different complainant. 

Mendy, who moved to City from Monaco in 2017, has been under arrest since August. After his appearance in court, along with Louis Saha Matturie, the co-defendant, both men went back to custody following the 40-minute hearing. Currently, their trial has been shifted to be held later in 2022, whereas it was earlier supposed to start in January. 

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At the time of Mendy’s arrest, he had applied for bail but was denied. Of the complainants who came forward, one of them was under 18, which makes the nature of the crime even more heinous. Due to the developing situation, Mendy does not remain a part of the Pep Guardiola-managed squad at present. A spokesperson addressed the matter at that time, saying, “Manchester City can confirm that, following his being charged by police, Benjamin Mendy has been suspended pending an investigation. The matter is subject to a legal process and the club is therefore unable to make further comment until that process is complete.”

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As per reports, Mendy earned £90,000 in a week, as a City player. He has a mansion valued at £5million, in Prestbury, which is near Manchester.