The French players Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema have been accused by a trial judge had asked, allegedly, the services of underage prostitute known as Zahia.
The French players Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema have been accused by a trial judge had asked, allegedly, the services of underage prostitute known as Zahia.
Benzema, 22, and Ribery, 27, and the brother of Bayern Munich, 21, were released after knowing their status as suspects and are not under judicial control, media reported Gauls. Benzema's agent, asked to see if had played an intermediary role in the matter, was released without charge after giving evidence to the police.
The players, who had been interrogated for nearly seven hours by the Brigade for the Repression of Pimping (BRP), are suspected of have engaged the services of a prostitute when Zahia was not yet 18, although it told the police that the players were unaware of their age.
After the marathon interrogation, both players were handcuffed before the magistrate Andre Dando, who first accused Ribéry, then his brother and finally to Benzema.
French law provides for penalties of up to three years in prison and fine of 45,000 euros for customers of prostitutes under 18 years, although it has to show that they knew the condition under the prostitute at the time of the facts.
The alleged events dating back to 2008, in the case of Benzema, since 2009, in regard to Ribéry.
Speaking to local media, the lawyer for the Bayern Munich star, Sophie Bottai, said he was unaware that the prostitute Ribéry, Zahia, was a minor when he hired his services in 2009.
According to leaks to the press, Ribéry had acknowledged in an initial statement to police in April have had a relationship with her and have paid a visit to Bavaria, as researchers seek to know whether it was the very player who bought the ticket plane, which would have allowed his age.
Police questioning today from Benzema and Ribery came three months after the scandal broke, because researchers decided to postpone the testimony of the players until after the World Cup not to interfere with the preparation of the French.
Zahia police had testified that both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich on their sexual services contracted when she was still a minor, but pointed out that the players were not aware of his age.
The meetings, whose rate was 2,000 euros, were as stage Zaman Cafe, a nightclub located in the area of the Champs Elysees in Paris where he worked Zahia. The local investigations into this have led to the arrest of several individuals for pimping.
More customers Zahia
Another French international player of Olympique Lyonnais Sidney Govou, acknowledged having sex with Zahia, although when it was already an adult. Ribery, in a first statement to investigators in April, had admitted having used the services of the prostitute, but stating that he knew he was a minor, according to press leaks. French law provides for penalties of up to three years in prison and fine of 45,000 euros for customers of prostitutes under 18 years.