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Brazil: Footballer Pele's son Edinho in jail over drug trafficking charges | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The son of Brazil's footballing legend, Pele, has handed himself in to complete his sentence for money laundering and drug trafficking. | |
Edinho, a former professional goalkeeper, was first arrested in 2005 over the charges, but appealed. | Edinho, a former professional goalkeeper, was first arrested in 2005 over the charges, but appealed. |
He remained free during the appeal but was sentenced in 2014 to 33 years. | He remained free during the appeal but was sentenced in 2014 to 33 years. |
The court has reduced that sentence to 12 years and 10 months, but ruled that he must be imprisoned while he appeals. Edinho denies all the charges. | |
As he arrived at a police station in the city of Santos, he said there was not a shred of evidence against him. | |
"I'm frustrated because I'm being massacred by the legal system," he said. | |
"I never had any involvement with money laundering." | |
Four other people have also been sentenced in the same case, including a man accused of controlling much of the drug trafficking in the Greater Santos region - Ronaldo Duarte Barsotti, known as Naldinho. | |
'Justice will be done' | |
Edinho, whose real name is Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, admits that he once had a drug problem but says he has been clean for many years. | |
He played as goalkeeper in the 1990s for Santos, where his father spent all his professional career in Brazil. | He played as goalkeeper in the 1990s for Santos, where his father spent all his professional career in Brazil. |
He had been working as a manager of a small club in the state of Sao Paulo. | He had been working as a manager of a small club in the state of Sao Paulo. |
Pele, or Edson Arantes do Nascimento, retired in 1974, but made a comeback a year later for New York Cosmos. | Pele, or Edson Arantes do Nascimento, retired in 1974, but made a comeback a year later for New York Cosmos. |
Playing for Brazil, he won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and was acclaimed as the greatest footballer of his generation. | Playing for Brazil, he won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and was acclaimed as the greatest footballer of his generation. |
Edinho was five when Pele was signed to play for Cosmos and the family moved to New York. He is now 46. | Edinho was five when Pele was signed to play for Cosmos and the family moved to New York. He is now 46. |
When he returned to Brazil he decided to pursue a career in professional football - as a goalkeeper, much to his father's surprise. | When he returned to Brazil he decided to pursue a career in professional football - as a goalkeeper, much to his father's surprise. |
He was Santos's goalkeeper in 1995 when the team reached the Brazilian league final, losing the title to Botafogo. | |
His detention and alleged involvement with drug gangs took most people in Brazil by surprise. | His detention and alleged involvement with drug gangs took most people in Brazil by surprise. |
Pele, who is now 76, went to visit his son several times in jail. | |
"God willing, justice will be done. There is not a shred of evidence against my son," he said in 2006. | "God willing, justice will be done. There is not a shred of evidence against my son," he said in 2006. |
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