The trial for long term Arsenal target Mr Benzema 26, currently of Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich winger Mr Ribery 30, has begun in france with both players facing charges of having sex with an underage prostitute. The two players are accused of paying for sex with Ms Zahir Dehar when she was 16 in Mr Benzema’s case and 17, in Mr Riberys case. With both players possibly facing up to three years in prison and fines of up to 45.000 euros each, neither attended court themselves allowing both sets of lawyers to represent them.
Ms Zahir Dehar now 21 and has established herself as a luxury lingerie designer following the scandal, was also absent from the proceedings and has withrawn as a cival plaintiff in the case with her laywer Daniel Vaconsin stating “Ms Dehar is not asking for anything ”
The two players stand accused for paying for sex with Ms Dehar when she was 16 in the case of Karim Benzema and 17 in the case of Frank Ribery. The trial is going ahead following a ruling from Frances highest court that only those aware that a prostitute is underage can be found guilty of breaking the law, The prosecuters believe there is no case to answer although it is the investigating magistrates that have pushed this case through to trial.
Mr Ribery has admitted to having sex with Ms Dehar in 2009 after she was flown to Munich as a “present” for his 26th birthday, but denies knowing she was under the age of 18, while Mr Benzema who is accused of paying for sex with Ms Dehar in a hotel in Paris in 2008 denies the encounter ever took place. Ms Dehar testified to having sex with both players for money although does admit to lying to them about her age.. The trial continues..
Written by W.Cutmore
