Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his wish last Monday: to see former football star Robinho serve his nine-year prison sentence in his home country, Brazil, rather than in Italy.
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As a reminder, Robinho was convicted in 2017 in Italy for gang rape dating from 2013, while he was playing for AC Milan. The conviction, confirmed on appeal in 2020 and made final by the Italian Court of Cassation in 2022, still weighs on the former Brazilian international.
“ Robinho has already been convicted in Italy and should have served his sentence here. He will be tried this month. I hope he will pay the price for his irresponsibility ,” the Brazilian president said in a television interview.
Presidente Lula defende que Robinho cumpra pena no Brasil e manda o recado: "Cria VERGONHA! Estupro é imperdoável". #LulaNoSBT pic.twitter.com/iJQJ0H8PmI
— Lázaro Rosa 🇧🇷 (@lazarorosa25) March 11, 2024
Lula also stressed the seriousness of the crime of rape, saying that “ all people who commit the crime of rape must go to prison .”
Lula’s statement comes as the question of Robinho’s extradition to Italy is pending. At the moment, the former player is in Brazil where he awaits his trial, which is scheduled to begin on March 20.
