Pele's son released from jail in Brazil

20 November 2014 - 18:43 By Sapa-AP
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Picture taken on April 12, 2007 of Brazilian football star Pele (R9 and his son, former footballer and coach of goalkeepers in Santos FC, Edson Cholbi Nascimento, aka Edinho, in Santos. A Brazilian court has sentenced football legend Pele's son Edinho to 33 years in prison for laundering money for drug traffickers, media reports said on May 31, 2014.
Picture taken on April 12, 2007 of Brazilian football star Pele (R9 and his son, former footballer and coach of goalkeepers in Santos FC, Edson Cholbi Nascimento, aka Edinho, in Santos. A Brazilian court has sentenced football legend Pele's son Edinho to 33 years in prison for laundering money for drug traffickers, media reports said on May 31, 2014.

The 44-year-old son of soccer great Pele has been released from jail and will remain free while he appeals a conviction in a money laundering case that involved a drug gang.

Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, known as Edinho, was released late Wednesday, a day after he was taken into custody in the coastal city of Santos. A judge had said he had to stay in jail during the appeal process, but his lawyers obtained a petition to free the former goalkeeper.

Edinho was handed a 33-year prison sentenced this year after being found guilty of laundering money to a drug gang.

The 74-year-old Pele, who underwent surgery to remove kidney stones last week, said he will not comment on the case.

Edinho played for Santos in the 1990s.

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