Pele’s son returns to prison as his latest appeal against drug trafficking and money laundering charges are rejected
The former Santos goalkeeper handed himself into a police station on Friday after the court has ordered him to return to prison
PELE'S son Edson Cholbi Nascimento has been ordered to return to prison as his latest appeal against drug trafficking and money laundering charges were rejected.
Edinho, a former Santos goalkeeper and the son of the Brazil legend, handed himself into a police station on Friday after the court has ordered him to return to jail.
The 46- year-old was first arrested in 2005 following a police swoop on a drug trafficking gang.
He served six months in prison but was then released on parole as he persistently denied any wrongdoing.
Edinho was accused based on phone tap evidence, but has always said he will continue to fight the allegations as he claims that his only experience with drugs were with a drug user not a dealer.
In 2014, he was sentenced to a 33 years but that was later reduced to 12 years and 10 months.
Edinho returned to prison to serve his sentence back in February but was later released in March as his appeal continued.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Back at that moment in time Edinho said: "The frustration is huge because I'm being accused of money laundering, but I've never done that. There's no proof in this process of that.
"The argument is related to my friendship with the other accused. I have never denied that but I have never laundered money. The argument for conviction is simply friendship.
"It's difficult to accept and to go through everything I've gone through for more than 15 years."
"I'm ashamed, I regret my carelessness, but I did not commit a crime. I'm strong. I'm going to overcome this."
Pele has always protested his son's innocence, back in 2006 he said: "God willing, justice will be done. There is not a shred of evidence against my son."