Pele’s Son Sentenced to 33 Years’ Imprisonment for Illegal Activities
Oladunjoye Opeyemi
Brazilian football legend Pele has had one of his sons sentenced to 33 years in prison for laundering money for drug traffickers.
Edson Cholbi Nascimento, nicknamed Edinho, had a relatively low-key career in the 1990s playing for Santos, the same club where his father shot to fame. He denied the charges in the case, which date from 2005, and will reportedly be allowed to remain free pending appeal.
Edinho, 43, is accused of ties with a drug cartel led by Ronaldo “Naldinho” Duarte Barsotti. He however denied working with the cartel though he admits buying drugs from them.
The Praia Grande criminal court in Sao Paulo also sentenced three other defendants to 33 years’ jail and ordered the confiscation of all property seized in the police operation against them, including about 100 cars.
Pele, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has seven children. Considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, he won three World Cups with Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
