A French prosecutor has requested a jail sentence of two years and six months, including 18 months suspended, against French soccer star Wissam Ben Yedder after he went on trial for sexually assaulting a woman last month.
The prosecutor said the firm prison term could be adaptable and Ben Yedder's lawyers are confident he will escape jail even if he is convicted, lawyer Marie Roumiantseva told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Ben Yedder remained free ahead of Tuesday's hearing in the southern city of Nice after he was accused of sexual assault while intoxicated.
“Although not a single day in prison against Ben Yedder has been asked for, the requisitions are very harsh for facts that are both legally questionable and not very serious,” Roumiantseva said.
The court will hand down its decision on Nov. 12.
The hearing took place after a woman filed a lawsuit against Ben Yedder for sexual assault last month.
The 34-year-old Ben Yedder, a prolific striker who has also played for the national team, was briefly detained then released after the incident in his car on the French Riviera. He was arrested at his home later that night after he first refused to stop his car.
After his arrest, Ben Yedder — who has since started alcohol detox and therapy — admitted he drove while under the influence. He said during the trial he was so drunk he has no recollection of any kind of sexual assault.
Ben Yedder's legal team hopes for an acquittal on the sexual offence, which it claims has not been established.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Frank Michel, said during the trial that she was in a “state of shock” and asked for 25,000 euros ($27,225) in damages, L'Equipe newspaper reported.
The prosecution also asked for Ben Yedder's driving license to be suspended for six months.
In a separate legal case last year, Ben Yedder was charged with rape, attempted rape and sexual assault over another alleged incident in the south of France.
Ben Yedder has been without a club since his contract with Monaco expired at the end of last season.
He scored 16 goals with three assists in the French league last season to help Monaco finish second behind Paris Saint-Germain. In five seasons with Monaco, he scored 118 goals in 201 appearances in all competitions to become the club’s second-highest scorer behind retired Argentine striker Delio Onnis (223).
Ben Yedder has 19 caps for France, the last of which came in June 2022.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press
