FORMER Man City footballer Robinho is set to live inside a tiny isolation cell as he begins his nine year sentence for a gang-rape.
The disgraced 40-year-old has been transferred to a chilling Brazilian prison in Tremembé alongside murderers and fellow rapists who are made to make toilet cleaner.
Robinho was one of a group of six men convicted of sexually assaulting an Albanian woman in a club in 2013.
Italy issued an international arrest warrant for Robinho, but the former Premier League star managed to dodge jail for seven years while living in Sao Paulo.
He says he is innocent and his defence team is reportedly filing an appeal against the decision.
Robinho is due to spend the first 10 days at least in a temporary holding cell completely by himself.
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Here he will be under observation by guards and made to do tests by doctors, psychologists and social workers.
The cold, lonely enclosure is made up of little to be admired.
As the tiny 8m squared concrete block Robinho will now call home only has a single bed, small sink and a toilet built into the floor.
A barred up window will also provide just a glimpse of the outside world.
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He could stay here for up to 30 days depending on how his evaluation goes.
While in the cell all activities are isolated, report g1 and he will be given four meals each day.
The first at 6am and the last at 5:30pm.
Robinho will then be moved to the common housing pavilion within the Penitentiary Two (P2) jail.
Here he will meet up with the other 430 prisoners for the first time.
Tremembé is notorious for housing high level criminals including child killers, murderers and other rapists.
All inmates inside the hellhole jail are made to wear matching outfits of a white t-shirt and khaki pants – a far cry from Robinho’s typical football kit.
Although the prison grounds do have a football pitch for inmates to use.
Robinho will be expected to work during his time behind bars potentially making school desks and chairs or even toilet disinfectant tablets – something the P2 jail is known for.
Inmates also have access to drama based lessons and other workshops in reading, literacy and origami.
Brazil’s prisons have been dubbed “hell on earth” before and for good reason as inmates have been found decapitated after savage attacks as drug warlords call all the shots.
The country’s prisons have notoriously horrid living conditions with overcrowding, violence, harsh punishments and gang wars being only some of the many problems the underfunded facilities face.
Harrowing photos show dozens of inmates crammed in one cell, lying head-to-toe across the floor.
Timeline of Robinho’s rape case
The rape case involving Brazilian footballer Robinho spans several years. Here’s a brief timeline:
- January 22, 2013: Robinho was one of a group of six men convicted of sexually assaulting an Albanian woman in a club during his stint for AC Milan.
- 2014: Brazilian media reported on the allegations against Robinho, but no formal charges were filed at that time.
- 2017: Robinho was found guilty of sexual assault by an Italian court and sentenced to nine years in prison. However, he denied the charges and appealed the verdict.
- 2020: After the appeal process, Robinho’s sentence was upheld by the Italian court. But due to the statute of limitations in Italy, he was not extradited to serve his sentence.
- 2022: Robinho’s prison sentence is ratified.
- March 2023: Robinho surrendered his passport to authorities
- November 2023: Italian prosecutors said they felt Robinho should serve his time in Brazil.
- March 20, 2024: Brazil’s Superior Court formed a simple majority and voted for Robinho to serve the sentence in his home country.
CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE
Robinho, who has claimed he is innocent, accused the Italian justice system of “racism” and said the encounter in 2013 was “consensual”.
He told a Brazilian network TV Record on Sunday: “I hope that here in Brazil I can have the voice that I didn’t have there.”
“I never denied it (the encounter). I could have denied it because my DNA was not there, but I’m not a liar.
“I played for four years in Italy and I got tired of seeing stories about racism. The same people who do nothing about racism, which I repudiate, are the ones who condemned me.”
A Brazilian news outlet previously published audio recordings obtained by Italian authorities which included Robinho discussing the case with friends.
In one clip he says: “We will punch her in her face. You will punch her in the face and say; ‘What did I do to you?'”
And in another: “That is why I am laughing, I don’t care at all.
“The girl was extremely drunk, she doesn’t even know who I am.”
A further leaked conversation shows him saying: “If this comes out in the press, it will screw me.”
Robinho played for clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan, and signed a contract in 2020 to return to his first club in Brazil, Santos.
However, the deal almost immediately fell apart after sponsors reportedly threatened to cut ties with the club for signing a player convicted of rape.
Speaking after the Santos announcement, the striker took to Instagram to admit: “Guys, this is Robinho.
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“Of course, with a lot of sadness in my heart, I’m here to tell you that I made the decision with the club president to suspend my contract at this troubled time in my life.
“My goal has always been to help Santos Football Club and if in any way I’m getting in the way, it’s best I leave and focus on my personal things.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
