The French prosecutor’s office have confirmed that Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been charged in an extortion case concerning a sex tape that involves fellow France international teammate Mathieu Valbuena, according to the Metro.
The 27-year-old has been charged with ‘complicity in an attempt to blackmail’ and conspiring to commit a criminal act, meaning he could face up to five years in prison (via Metro).
He has since been placed under judicial supervision, and can not come into contact with the victim or anybody else that is currently involved in the case (via Metro).
The Metro also reports that though the prosecutor has kept the striker in custody, under the French legal system that does not confirm any wrongdoing, though investigators do have serious grounds for further questioning.
Benzema has confirmed that he was involved in the alleged blackmail plot, but has also insisted that he is also a victim of the blackmailers (via Metro).
Valbuena, now at Lyon, was asked for money to stop the tape going public, with the Metro claiming that Benzema had mentioned the tape to him before a national team get-together at Clairefontaine at the beginning of October.
The Metro also cite reports in France claiming that Benzema is allegedly involved in the Air Cocaine scandal, but he has strenuously denied those claims.
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