France's secretary of state for urban policies, Fadela Amara, said yesterday footballer Franc Ribery, who along with Karim Benzema was charged for having had sex with an under-age prostitute, set a poor example to French youth.
France's secretary of state for urban policies, Fadela Amara, said yesterday footballer Franc Ribery, who along with Karim Benzema was charged for having had sex with an under-age prostitute, set a poor example to French youth.
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| In hand-cuffs: Franck Ribery |
"It is not a good image of a man to give to the youth of France," Amara said in an interview with French news channel iTele, adding: "I am sorry to see a man like Ribery find himself in such a terrible, catastrophic situation."
The indictments are the first stage of a formal judicial investigation that could lead to a trial and, if convicted, both players face up to three years in jail and a fine of USD 58,000.
Ribery arrived for the investigation at the Palace of Justice in Paris in handcuffs, according to witnesses, but was freed without preconditions after the hearing.
Ribery's lawyer Sophie Bottai expressed surprise at the charge.
"The only thing that's new since the last time he was questioned is that the World Cup is over and he played badly," she told reporters here.
