Mumbai: Former Manchester City and Brazilian footballer Robinson has been sentenced to nine years of imprisonment after an Italian court convicted him with five other men of gang raping a 22-year-old Albanian woman in a night club in Milan in 2013.
The court ruled that Robinho along with five other Brazilians assaulted the woman, after plying her with alcohol. The whereabouts of the footballer’s five other companions are yet to be known, hence their trial has been put on hold, reported The Guardian.
He was playing for AC Milan during the incident and spent five seasons with the Rossoneri, winning a Serie A title in 2010 and a Supercoppa Italiana in 2011. The 33-year-old is currently with Atlético Minerio in Brazil.
The forward although absent during the hearing, pleased not guilty via his lawyer. A post in his Instagram read, “We would like to clarify that he has already defended himself against the accusations, affirming that he did not participate in the episode,” said a statement posted on Robinho’s Instagram feed. “All legal measures are being taken,” reported The Guardian.
His sentence however will be put on hold until the appeals process is completed. Robinho can make two appeals in the court and will be sentenced only after the appeals are exhausted
The court also judged, that the victim will receive 60,000 euros ($71,000) as compensation for her suffering.
Robinho who is capped 100 times for his national team scoring 28 goals, began his career in Santos, where he was a star winning the Brasiliero Serie A twice in three years (2002, 2004). He soon caught the eye of European supergiants Real Madrid , who brought him to Santiago Bernabeu. He won the La Liga in 2006 and 2007 but was soon shipped out to Premier League side Manchester City, for a then British record fee £32.5m 2008.
Not shying away from controversy the star who was once termed the next ‘Ronaldo’ in Brazil was also accused of a sexual assault in 2009, while he was at City, but was soon cleared of all the charges.