Former Brazil international footballer Robinho has been arrested to serve a nine-year prison sentence for rape. The 40-year-old was taken into custody at his flat in Santos, Brazil, after a court upheld the decision to enforce the sentence.
Robinho was convicted in Italy two years ago for his involvement in the gang rape of an Albanian woman at a Milan nightclub in 2013. The Italian government requested he serve his sentence in Brazil after failing to secure his extradition.
On Wednesday, a Brazilian court ruled that he should serve his time behind bars rather than under house arrest. A Supreme Court judge rejected a request to halt his detention on Thursday.
The decisive action by Brazil's justice system has been praised in local media, with many fearing Robinho would evade justice due to his fame and wealth. The former AC Milan and Manchester City player, who has 100 caps for Brazil, had claimed the sex was consensual.
