French rapper Koba LaD was handed a six-year prison sentence on Wednesday for aggravated manslaughter following a car accident that claimed the life of one of his friends. The 25-year-old artist, known for earning three platinum discs, was driving a luxury sports car when he collided with a stationary truck at a petrol station.
His stylist, a close companion and front-seat passenger, was killed in the crash, while the victim’s girlfriend, seated in the back, suffered minor injuries.
Born Marcel Junior Loutarila, Koba LaD has been in custody since the accident in September 2024. He admitted full responsibility, describing the loss of his friend as “hard to live with”.
The court ruled the offence was aggravated due to his excessive speed and drug use, having tested positive for cannabis following the collision.
Additionally, his driving licence was revoked, and he is banned from retaking the test for a decade. The rapper expressed regret to the victim’s family, though their lawyer labelled him “a public danger on the road.”
Koba LaD’s criminal record includes previous convictions, including a non-fatal crash in Marseille in 2020. His name also arose during investigations into the escape of drug trafficker Mohamed Amra in May 2024, an incident that resulted in the deaths of two prison officers.
A childhood friend of Amra, Koba LaD was questioned earlier this year but his lawyers dismissed the claims as baseless, attributing the association solely to his public profile and acquaintances.
