Former footballer Robinho, 40, is fighting a recent Brazilian court decision that would require him to serve his nine-year rape sentence in his home country.
The case stems from a 2013 incident in Italy, where Robinho was convicted of gang-raping a 22-year-old Albanian woman. Though he has maintained his innocence throughout, the conviction was upheld by Italian courts and recently recognized as valid in Brazil.
Despite this validation, Robinho’s lawyers are challenging the immediate imprisonment order. They argue that the law allowing foreign sentences to be served in Brazil wasn’t in effect at the time of the crime and cannot be applied retroactively. Additionally, they claim the decision violates Supreme Court rulings guaranteeing freedom until all legal avenues are exhausted.
The defense has filed a request with Brazil’s Supreme Court, seeking to suspend the lower court’s decision and prevent Robinho’s immediate arrest. They advocate for his continued freedom until all appeals are concluded.
This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal saga. Whether Robinho will ultimately serve his sentence in Brazil remains to be seen.
