Ex-Manchester City Footballer Robinho to Serve 9-Year Sentence in Small Isolation Cell for Gang-Rape Conviction
Former footballer Robinho, aged 40, has been relocated to a daunting Brazilian prison in Tremembé. He now shares confinement with murderers and other rapists, all tasked with producing toilet cleaner.
Robinho was among six men found guilty of sexually assaulting an Albanian woman at a club in 2013. Despite Italy issuing an international arrest warrant, the former Premier League star evaded imprisonment for seven years while residing in Sao Paulo.
Maintaining his innocence, Robinho’s defense team is allegedly preparing an appeal against the verdict. Initially, he is set to spend at least the first 10 days in solitary confinement in a temporary holding cell.
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.
Inside Robinho’s prison
In this austere setting, Robinho will be closely monitored by guards and subjected to assessments by medical professionals, psychologists, and social workers.The bleak confines offer scant comfort, consisting of a mere 8-square-meter concrete cell with minimal amenities—a solitary bed, a small sink, and a floor-mounted toilet.
A barred window offers only a narrow view of the outside world, further emphasizing the isolation of his situation.
Robinho’s stay in this cell could extend up to 30 days, contingent upon the outcome of his evaluation process, as reported by G1. During his time in confinement, all activities are conducted in isolation. Additionally, he will receive four meals daily as part of his routine.
A guide to Robinho’s prison schedule
Robinho’s daily meals are scheduled, with the first served at 6 am and the last at 5:30 pm. Following this period of isolation, he will transition to the communal housing pavilion within Penitentiary Two (P2) jail, where he will join approximately 430 other inmates.
Tremembé prison is notorious for accommodating high-profile criminals, including child killers, murderers, and rapists. Inmates are required to wear matching outfits consisting of a white t-shirt and khaki pants, starkly different from Robinho’s usual football attire. However, the prison does provide a football pitch for recreational use by inmates.
According to TheSun, During his incarceration, Robinho will likely be assigned work duties, which could involve tasks such as crafting school desks and chairs or manufacturing toilet disinfectant tablets—a practice for which P2 jail is recognized.
In addition to basic amenities, inmates at the prison have access to various educational and recreational activities, including drama-based lessons, reading workshops, literacy programs, and even origami workshops.
Brazilian prisons have earned the moniker “hell on earth,” and it’s not without reason. The brutal reality of these facilities is highlighted by incidents of extreme violence, including decapitations resulting from savage attacks orchestrated by drug warlords who wield significant power within the prison walls.
Living conditions in Brazil’s prisons are notoriously dire, characterized by severe overcrowding, endemic violence, draconian punishments, and ongoing gang conflicts. Underfunding exacerbates these issues, contributing to a cycle of suffering and despair.
Sports Buddy earlier reported the fall off of six Brazilian footballers who made media highlights for the wrong reasons and Robinho was one of them.
Harrowing images depict the grim reality of life inside these prisons, with overcrowded cells forcing dozens of inmates to lie head-to-toe on the floor, underscoring the inhumane conditions endured by those incarcerated.
Robinho admits being innocent
Robinho, steadfast in his claim of innocence, has accused the Italian justice system of “racism” and contends that the encounter in 2013 was consensual. In an interview with Brazilian network TV Record on Sunday, he expressed hope for a fair hearing in Brazil, asserting, “I hope that here in Brazil I can have the voice that I didn’t have there.”
Refusing to deny the encounter, Robinho stated, “I never denied it. I could have denied it because my DNA was not there, but I’m not a liar.” He lamented the prevalence of racism in Italy, emphasizing, “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.”
Previously, a Brazilian news outlet released audio recordings obtained by Italian authorities, capturing Robinho discussing the case with friends.
