By Gura Garcia
Jun 12, 2024, 08:59 AM EDT
The former Brazilian striker, Robinho, who at the time defended the colors of clubs like Real Madrid of Spain, Manchester City of England and AC Milan of Italy, is serving a 9-year sentence behind bars in a Brazilian prison for rape. After being found guilty in 2017 for his participation in the gang rape of a woman in a Milan nightclub, the former player keeps busy in prison to spend his days as active and calm as possible.
Robinho takes a basic electronics course and also participates in reading programs. In the electronics program, taught by the Brazilian Universal Institute, Robinho learned to repair televisions, radios and other types of appliances. According to the words of his lawyer, Mario Rosso Vale, the former player is completing 600 hours of fully remote learning: “he has enrolled in a basic electronics course to learn how to repair televisions and radios,” Vale explained. “It’s hard to say if he’s enjoying it or not, but it’s helping him pass the time,” he added.
An exemplary custodian
In the midst of his time behind bars, he has been described as an exemplary inmate, with demeanor optimum. Vale stated: “Robinho keeps his head down and moves forward calmly… he is being an exemplary prisoner and has had no problems with other prisoners.” In addition to the aforementioned, the former forward has been involved in recreational activities within the detention center, to the point that they have given him soccer boots so that he can participate in games that are held during recreation time for the inmates.
The former footballer, in addition to his studies in electronics, has volunteered to direct a reading program whose mission is to distribute a total of at least 500 books monthly to other prison inmates. This activity is part of one of the jobs that the player does to be active and be able to contribute as he can in the most positive way to the prison community.
Robinho’s story of being behind bars
Robinho’s case has had a long chronology. In January 2013 it became public knowledge that the former player was part of a group of six men convicted of sexually assaulting an Albanian woman in the city of Milan in Italy. It was not until 2017 when an Italian court made the decision to find him guilty of sexual assault, also handing down a sentence of a total of nine years in prison. Despite this, the former player did not stop at any time to continue denying the charges and appealing the verdict. In 2020, after the appeal process, the sentence was finally confirmed, but due to the statute of limitations in Italy, he was not extradited. In 2022 his prison sentence was ratified and in March 2023 he handed over his passport to the authorities.
In November 2023, Italian prosecutors expressed their wish that Robinho should comply his conviction in his native Brazil. Finally, on March 20, 2024, the Brazilian Superior Court decided that the former player would serve his sentence in his country of origin. This ruling allowed Robinho to be immediately transferred to Tremembé prison.
Robinho’s lawyers are currently working on appealing his sentence.. According to Brazilian laws, Robinho could opt for a more flexible prison regime for good behavior, becoming eligible in 2027, when he has served almost half of his sentence. Until then, he will be kept under the prison regime established previously.
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