The 44-year-old son of soccer
legend Pele was arrested in Brazil on Tuesday
after losing an appeal in a money laundering
case involving a drug gang.
Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, known as Edinho,
had been convicted earlier this year and
sentenced to 33 years in prison for laundering
money for the gang. The former goalkeeper had
been allowed to remain free during the process,
but a local judge said his appeal was rejected.
Edinho can appeal again to a higher court, but
judge Suzana Pereira said in her ruling that this
time he must remain in jail.
Edinho's lawyers told Brazilian media that they
were surprised with the ruling and will request
Edinho's immediate release.
Pele's press office said the former player will
not immediately comment on his son's arrest.
The 74-year-old Pele, a World Cup champion
with Brazil in 1958, '62 and '70, successfully
underwent surgery to remove kidney stones last
week. He was discharged from hospital on
Saturday.
Edinho was taken into custody during a
mandatory monthly visit to a court in the
coastal city of Santos. He had spent about a
week in prison in July before being allowed to
appeal in freedom. He also spent six months in
a maximum-security prison in 2005 after being
arrested with 50 others in a sweep aimed at a
gang in Santos. Prosecutors said he was
associated with the criminal group.
Edinho previously denied the charges against
him, although he publicly said he had used
drugs out of curiosity after he quit professional
soccer.
In the early 1990s, Edinho was charged with
taking part in a high-speed race in which the
other car hit and killed a motorcyclist. He was
sentenced for manslaughter years later before
being acquitted in 2005.
Edinho played in the early 1990s with Santos,
the same team where Pele played during most
of his career. He had been working as an
assistant coach with the eight-time Brazilian
champion.
- AP
No comments: