Former Manchester City and Real Madrid player Robinho is spending his first Christmas in prison after being deemed ineligible for the temporary festive release granted to thousands of inmates at his facility.
Prison authorities confirmed that Robinho, serving a nine-year sentence for rape, does not qualify for the privilege and will remain in custody at Penitentiary II Dr. José Augusto Salgado in Tremembé, São Paulo.
Known as “P2 Tremembé” or the “Prison for Famous People,” the facility offers better conditions than most other prisons in the region.
The 39-year-old, whose real name is Robson de Souza, began his sentence in March and will not be able to join his wife, Vivian, and their three children for the holidays at their Santos home.
Brazil’s Prison Service stated: “Inmate Robson de Souza is serving a sentence under a closed regime and is not entitled to temporary release, a benefit granted only to semi-open regime inmates. Tremembé Penitentiary II will not hold any special programs for end-of-year celebrations.”
Robinho was convicted alongside his friend Ricardo Falco for sexually assaulting an Albanian woman at a Milan nightclub in January 2013 during his time at AC Milan. While Robinho has been incarcerated since March 21, Falco joined him in June following a Brazilian court’s decision to enforce the Italian court’s ruling.
