Mexican singer appears in court to answer rape charges

Cancun (Mexico), Jan 24 (IANS/EFE) Singer Kalimba, who is being held at a prison in the Mexican Caribbean state of Quintana Roo on rape charges, appeared before a judge and exercised his right not to make a statement during a four-hour hearing.

Judge Daniel Farah confirmed that the defence requested additional time to present evidence in the case at the closed-door hearing.

Press access was limited during Saturday’s hearing, with photographers allowed inside the courtroom for just four minutes.

The judge gave the defence six more days to present evidence supporting the singer, attorney Eliezer Garcia said.

Kalimba did not make a statement at the hearing because one is already on record, the attorney said.

“I can’t give any more details. Kalimba already gave a statement and we are going to use these days to gather more evidence that proves his innocence,” Garcia said.

The singer, whose full name is Kalimba Kadjaly Marichal Ibar, allegedly sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl who worked at his Dec 19 concert in Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo.

Kalimba was detained by US immigration authorities at El Paso International Airport in Texas Friday and sent back to Mexico.

The 28-year-old singer contends the teenager went to his hotel with several other people after the show and denies raping her.

–IANS/EFE