Brazil court annuls trial of Pele's son in drug trafficking

Brazil News.Net
Thursday 11th September, 2008

Brasilia, Sep 11 (DPA) Brazil's High Court of Justice (STJ) annulled a criminal trial for drug trafficking against the son of football legend Pele, former goalkeeper Edson Cholby do Nascimento, known as 'Edinho,' Brazilian media has reported.

The STJ said a decision had been made on the case and that all parties had been informed.

Edinho's lawyer, Eduardo Miguel Elias, said the trial - which had started in June 2005 - was annulled late Tuesday.

Elias said that the cause for the move was allegedly that his client and 10 other plaintiffs in the same case could not present their defence in writing, as Brazilian law requires.

Pele's son was arrested in June 2005, suspected of having ties with a drug gang led by Ronaldo Barsoti, alias 'Naldinho,' who at the time controlled the drug trade in the coastal areas of the state of Sao Paulo.

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