Former footballer Robinho has been mandated by a Brasilia court to serve his nine-year rape sentence, originally pronounced by an Italian court, in Brazil. The decision, passed by a majority of nine votes to two, acceded to Italy’s plea for Robinho’s incarceration in his home country. The conviction stems from Robinho’s involvement in the gang rape of an Albanian woman during her 23rd birthday celebrations at a Milan nightclub in 2013.
Robson de Souza, commonly known as “Robinho,” was found guilty by an Italian court in 2017 for his participation in the abhorrent act. At the time of the crime, Robinho was playing for AC Milan. Despite his absence from Wednesday’s hearing, his lawyers affirmed that he would remain at liberty pending any potential appeal against the court’s ruling.
Having exhausted legal avenues in Italy, including a failed appeal at the Milan Court of Appeal in 2020, Robinho faced the prospect of serving his sentence. Italy, unable to extradite its nationals, sought the enforcement of Robinho’s penalty in Brazil, a request endorsed by the Brasilia court.
Despite maintaining his innocence and labeling the encounter as consensual, Robinho’s assertions failed to sway the judiciary. In a televised interview, he contested the allegations and criticized the Italian justice system, alleging racial bias.
As the legal saga continues, Robinho’s fate remains intertwined with the complexities of international law and justice. The decision to repatriate him for imprisonment reflects the collaborative efforts between nations to uphold the principles of justice and accountability.
