The son of the Brazilian football legend, Pele has been sentenced to 33 years in
prison after being found guilty of laundering money for an alleged drugs
cartel.
Edinho, himself a
former professional footballer for Pele’s old club Santos, was accused of using his father’s name to provide an air of
legitimacy to businesses which handled money made through trafficking.
Tried under his full name of Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, the 43-year-old was given an identical
sentence
to four other members of the alleged gang, including the fugitive
cartel boss Ronaldo Duarte Barsotti,
known as Naldinho.
Naldinho was accused of controlling a large proportion of
the drugs moving through the country’s south-east region, including the supply
of cocaine to the favelas of Rio de
Janeiro, but has been on the run from police for more than five years.
According to the Santos-based newspaper, the court heard
records of one telephone conversation in which Naldinho and Edinho discussed
opening a new business. The former footballer apparently said that if the gang
boss could provide the money, he would “provide
the name” – believed to be an allusion to his famous father.
In sentencing the five men, judge Suzana Pereira da Silva
ordered the seizing of property including more than 100 cars belonging to
Naldinho which, she said, were “clearly
acquired with money from illegal practices”.
Speaking about his son’s alleged involvement with cartels in
2006, Pele said he had been to visit Edinho in jail on a number of occasions. He
said: “God willing, justice will be done.
There is not a shred of evidence against my son.”
The three-time World Cup winner reportedly scored more than
1,200 goals in his career – and says he was surprised when his son decided to
become a goalkeeper.
No comments:
Post a Comment