Football legend Pele’s son has been acquitted of drug trafficking charges after he was previously linked to a drug gang despite him strenuously denying being part of it.
Nine defendants were named in the ruling by the courts of Praia Grande, on the coast of Brazil’s state of Sao Paulo, and the son of football legend Pele, Edinho, was the only one acquitted, local media reported on 3rd December.
Edinho, whose full name is Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, 54, is a Brazilian football manager who used to play as a goalkeeper. He was arrested along with 16 other people in 2005 for money laundering and drug trafficking and was jailed.
The courts in Praia Grande acquitted the former goalkeeper due to lack of evidence that he was part of the gang, sentencing Naldinho to 25 years in prison in absentia.
The defendant disappeared on December 29, 2008, while in an open regime. Like Edinho, he was also sentenced to 33 years in prison for money laundering from drug trafficking.
Some believe that Naldinho was killed while others think that he escaped, according to local media.
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