元ベルギー代表ＭＦナインゴランを起訴 コカイン密輸捜査で

【ブリュッセルＡＦＰ＝時事】コカイン密輸に関する捜査の一環で逮捕されたサッカー元ベルギー代表のＭＦラジャ・ナインゴラン（３６）が２８日に起訴されたと、検察当局が明かした。（写真はサッカーベルギー１部のロイヤル・アントワープＦＣ時代のラジャ・ナインゴラン）
　ナインゴランは、２７日午前に国内各地で行われた一斉捜査で、他に十数人の容疑者と共に逮捕された。逮捕者の大半は「薬物の不法な輸入と輸送、販売」や「組織犯罪へのリーダーとしての関与」が疑われているが、弁護人によればナインゴランは「リーダー」ではなく「メンバー」としての関与だったとして、起訴後に保釈された。
　今回の一斉捜査では、２．７キロのコカインに加えて、現金や金貨、高級腕時計、銃火器、防弾チョッキなども押収され、宝石の隠し場所も発覚している。
　ナインゴランは、ベルギー代表として３０試合に出場し、６得点を記録。クラブレベルでは、イタリア・セリエＡのカリアリ、インテル、ＡＳローマなどでプレーした。昨夏以降は無所属となっていたが、前週にベルギー２部のロケレン・テムセに加入し、復帰戦となった週末の試合でゴールを挙げていた。
　ピッチ外でよく問題を起こすことでも知られ、ベルギーメディアによれば、２０２３年初めまで所属した同国のロイヤル・アントワープＦＣではベンチでの喫煙が発覚し、出場停止処分を受けた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/01/29-17:53）

Former Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan was charged on Tuesday as part of an investigation into cocaine trafficking on an international scale, a day after he was arrested, the Brussels prosecutor's office said.
The 36-year-old footballer was charged with participating in a criminal organisation and then conditionally released, his lawyer Mounir Souidi told media after a hearing in Brussels.
Nainggolan was among 18 suspects arrested following a series of 30 searches carried out on Monday morning in the northern province of Antwerp, as well as in the Brussels area. Ten of them were imprisoned after being brought before a judge.
The majority of those held face charges of importation, transport and selling of drugs without permission and with the participation in organised crime as leaders.
Nainggolan was released on bail as he was charged with being a member of the organisation and not a leader.
The investigation concerns alleged facts of importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium, prosecutors said in a statement on Monday.
In addition to 2.7 kilos (six pounds) of cocaine, police seized around half a million euros ($521,000) in cash and gold coins, a stash of jewellery, and luxury watches including two worth some 360,000 euros each.
They further seized three firearms, two bullet-proof vests and 14 vehicles, prosecutors said.
Antwerp-born Nainggolan came out of retirement last week to join a lower-tier Belgian side -- adding a final spell to a long career that saw him play 30 matches and score six goals for the national team.
Having played for Italian teams Cagliari, Inter Milan and Roma, he had been without a club since last summer before signing with Belgian second-tier outfit Lokeren last week.
He marked his debut with a goal at the weekend in Lokeren's 1-1 home draw to K. Lierse.
He had previously returned from Italy to Belgium in the summer of 2021 to join Royal Antwerp.
A tattooed midfielder known for his off-field antics, he parted ways with Antwerp in early 2023.
A few months earlier he had been suspended for being caught smoking an electronic cigarette on the bench, according to Belgian media.