Brazil’s excessive court docket dominated Wednesday that former soccer star Robinho should serve his nine-year jail sentence in Brazil for his 2017 rape conviction in Italy.
The 40-year-old’s legal professionals stated they might file a request for habeas corpus at Brazil’s Supreme Court to maintain him free through the appeals course of.
Judges at Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice in Brasilia voted 9-2 to uphold the conviction of the previous Real Madrid, Manchester City, and AC Milan striker.
Robinho was sentenced in Italy to 9 years in jail for his involvement in a gaggle sexual assault in 2013 whereas taking part in for AC Milan.
Due to Brazil’s coverage of not extraditing its nationals, Italy sought his imprisonment in his house nation.
“Brazil can’t be a shelter for criminals,” Judge Mauro Campbell Marques stated throughout his vote.
Judges wrapped up their voting in lower than a day, stunning many authorized analysts who anticipated the choice to take days or perhaps weeks.
The resolution coincided with a Spanish court docket’s ruling that Brazilian soccer star Dani Alves may depart jail pending his enchantment of a rape conviction in Barcelona, offered he pays a bail of 1 million euros ($1.1 million) and surrenders his passports.
Robinho’s lawyer, Jose Eduardo Alckmin, informed the court docket initially of Wednesday’s listening to that his consumer needs a retrial in Brazil on the grounds of nationwide sovereignty.
Alckmin added that with out habeas corpus, Robinho may very well be jailed “in a matter of days, it may even be hours.”
“The defendant cannot go unpunished,” Judge Francisco Falcao stated. “The conviction is closing. The defendant was not tried in absentia in Italy, he had illustration.”
Judge Raul Araujo argued Robinho ought to serve his sentence in Brazil to keep away from diplomatic friction between Brazil and Italy.
Judge Isabel Gallotti disagreed with Araujo, stating, “This international sentence is lengthy, well-founded and well-reasoned.”
Robinho, who lives in Santos, outdoors Sao Paulo, gave up his passport to Brazilian authorities in March 2023. He continues to disclaim any wrongdoing, insisting his sexual relations with the girl at a Milan bar have been consensual.
The court docket dominated that authorities in Santos would resolve when and easy methods to jail Robinho.
Lawyer Jacopo Gnocchi, who represented the sufferer, stated he and his consumer have been happy with the court docket’s ruling.
“We revered and understood that the Brazilian Constitution doesn’t enable the extradition of its personal residents, however that doesn’t change the truth that when the sentence is closing, it’s honest that the sentence is utilized,” Gnocchi informed Brazilian news web site UOL.
In an interview with TV Record aired on Sunday, Robinho blamed racism for his conviction in Italy.
“I played only four years in Italy and I got tired of seeing stories of racism. Unfortunately, that exists to this day,” Robinho stated.
Federal prosecutor Hindemburgo Chateaubriand reminded the judges of audio recordings during which Robinho mentioned the case with pals.
“We will punch her in her face. You will punch her within the face and say, ‘What did I do to you?’” Robinho tells a buddy in a single excerpt.
In one other dialogue, Robinho says, “That is why I’m laughing, I don’t care in any respect.”
Robinho rose to nationwide fame in 2002 as an 18-year-old, main Santos to its first nationwide title for the reason that Pele period.
He gained the Confederations Cup with Brazil in 2005 and joined Real Madrid, Manchester City, and AC Milan earlier than returning to Santos in 2010. He additionally had stints in China and Türkiye.
Source: www.dailysabah.com