The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the UK has pressed charges against the driver and security guard for Pakistan Muslim League-Noon (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, accusing him of assaulting a woman by spitting on her in London last year.
Farid Nemouchi, the accused, faces charges of “common assault” following a complaint lodged by Panzani Cheema, a Brunei national residing in London.
The incident unfolded in September last year when Cheema approached Nawaz Sharif’s car, where he was accompanied by his guard, Nemouchi. Cheema began filming and questioning Sharif, prompting Nemouchi to allegedly spit on her face before driving away. The incident, captured on Cheema’s phone, gained traction on social media.
Appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Nemouchi pleaded not guilty to the charges, signaling his intent to contest the accusation. Notably, Cheema was not present during the court proceedings.
During the hearing, the prosecutor highlighted the distress caused to Cheema by the alleged spitting incident. However, the judge granted Nemouchi bail without conditions and scheduled the trial for June or July.
Nemouchi, originally from Algeria, is a skilled martial artist who provided security for Nawaz Sharif during his exile in London. His lawyer, Moeen Khan, asserted his client’s innocence, emphasizing the circumstances surrounding the incident and citing ongoing threats to Sharif’s safety reported to the Metropolitan Police.
“We will seek to demonstrate that our client did not violate any laws. Considering the circumstances at the time of the incident, Farid was protecting a high-profile individual facing live threats,” stated Moeen Khan. “Farid Nemouchi is an accomplished professional in his field, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, as per UK law.”