Former Brazilian international Robinho and his friend Ricardo Falco have been found guilty of gang rape by an Italian court.
The incident occurred in a nightclub in Milan back in 2013. Robinho was 28 at the time and undergoing his third season for AC Milan. The Brazilian and five other men committed an atrocious act of sexual violence on a 22-year-old Albanian woman. However, only Robinho and his friend were identified and convicted.
According to Globo Esporte, the former Real Madrid and Man City player had been interrogated a year after the incident occurred. However, Robinho claimed he and the victim engaged in consensual sex acts and denied the presence of other men.
This Thursday’s ruling was the defense’s first appeal.
The Brazilian received his first sentence after shocking phone-call conversations between the two defendants were introduced as evidence. In the recordings, Robinho and Falco confirm they knew about the young woman’s almost unconscious state.
“On that night she couldn’t do anything, not even stand up. She was really out of it,” said Falco. “Yes,” confirmed Robinho.
In another conversation recorded in 2014, Robinho speaks to the musician that was playing at the nightclub on January 23rd. Jairo Chagas warns him about the accusations, but the Brazilian international isn’t concerned.
“I’m laughing because I’m not bothered by it. The woman was completely drunk, she doesn’t even know what happened.”
At 36 years old, Robinho had signed for Santos back in October. However, after the story broke-out in Brazil, the club immediately suspended his contract.
In addition to the sentencing, Robinho and his friend will have to provide the victim with a financial compensation of €60,000. Despite the overwhelming evidence, the player’s defence team will file another appeal as Italian courts allow for four appeal instances.
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