Famous musician, Koffi Olomide, (Antoine Agbepa Mumba) is enmeshed in rape scandal.

The Congolese singer went on trial after four of his former dancers claimed he sexually assaulted them several times between 2002 and 2006.

The assaults allegedly happened in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as in France, including at a villa outside Paris where the women said they were held against their will. The dancers said they managed to make a night-time escape from the villa in June 2006, and have not returned to their country since for fear of reprisals. Prosecutors at his trial in Nanterre, outside Paris, had sought a seven-year prison sentence but the court dismissed the assault and kidnapping charges.

Olomide, 62, was also ordered to pay 5,000 euros ($5,700) in damages to the former dancer, as well as a 5,000-euro fine for helping three of the women enter France illegally.

He was first charged in 2012 with aggravated rape but the charges were subsequently reduced. Facing a French arrest warrant, he fled to DR Congo in 2009 but had initially said he would appear at the trial to defend himself. However, he failed to show for the trial last month, which was held behind closed doors at the women’s request.