FRANCE STRIKER KARIM BENZEMA CHARGED IN SEX TAPE CASE

FRANCE STRIKER KARIM BENZEMA CHARGED IN SEX TAPE CASE

FRANCE STRIKER KARIM BENZEMA CHARGED IN SEX TAPE CASE

PARIS (AP) -- Five years after missing the
World Cup amid his involvement in a
prostitution probe, Karim Benzema was
charged Thursday with conspiracy to
blackmail as part of an investigation
over a sex tape involving France
teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
Benzema, widely considered one of the
most talented strikers in the
world, also faced preliminary
charges of participating in a
criminal group in a scandal that
has monopolized the national media's
attention.
Few details of the case have been
released, but investigators said they are
trying to find out if Benzema played a
role in an extortion attempt targeting
Valbuena, and if he actually tried to
blackmail the Lyon midfielder.
Benzema was handed the preliminary
charges Thursday after being brought
before a judge at a Versailles court
following a night spent in custody. The
Real Madrid forward, who has been
freed pending further investigation,
faces a maximum prison sentence of five
years, the prosecutor's office said.
Benzema and another teammate on
France's national team, Franck Ribery,
were handed preliminary charges in
2010 for soliciting an underage
prostitute. Both were questioned and,
three years later, acquitted.
Benzema's involvement in the sex tape
case has yet to be determined, but
investigators believe he was approached
by a childhood friend to act as an
intermediary between the blackmailers
and Valbuena.
"Karim Benzema will show his good faith
in this matter as soon as possible," said
Benzema's lawyer, Sylvain Cormier,
adding that the charges arose from a
question of interpretation. "He was
charged by the judge who notified him
that he was a suspect ... It is not a
declaration of guilt."
Preliminary charges under French law
mean magistrates have strong reason to
believe a crime was committed, and
allow time for further investigation. The
charges may later be dropped.
Benzema was also placed under judicial
supervision, meaning he cannot meet
with the victim - Valbuena - or other
people charged in the case. He can,
however, continue to live abroad and
travel freely, so Real Madrid should not
be affected by the charges.
Benzema resumed light training with
Real Madrid later Thursday, with the
Spanish giants publishing a picture of
the striker doing some ball work on its
Twitter feed.
Madrid said in a statement that club
president Florentino Perez met with
Benzema and showed his "full support"
for the player and expressed his belief in
the Frenchman's "innocence."
At least four other people have been
handed preliminary charges in the case
since October. The fourth was added
Thursday evening, with the Versailles
state prosecutor saying in a statement
that the individual had also been placed
in custody.
The investigation, which includes
wiretap evidence, started this year when
Valbuena decided to take legal action
after being contacted by a man claiming
to be in possession of an incriminating
sex tape.
In the same case, former France
international Djibril Cisse was briefly
detained last month but released without
seeing a judge.
Both Benzema and Valbuena play for
France's national team. But because of
the case, France coach Didier Deschamps
won't be able to use both players at the
same time while the investigation goes
on.
With both men being key members of
the national team, Benzema's judicial
issues could also have an impact on
France's performance at next year's
European Championship, which France
will host.
Deschamps left both players out of his
squad for upcoming friendly games
against Germany and England. Benzema
is currently sidelined with an injury but
Valbuena's omission was unexpected.
Deschamps said the Lyon midfielder isn't
in an emotional state to play in either
game.
Deschamps was bombarded with
questions related to the case at the start
of his news conference but refused to
take most of them.
"The best thing is to let the justice system
do its job," Deschamps said.
Ahead of the 2010 World Cup, Benzema
was left out of France's squad with then-
coach Raymond Domenech saying it was
because of the striker's unimpressive
season rather than any involvement in
the prostitution scandal.
---
Associated Press writers Lori Hinnant
and Angela Charlton contributed to this
report.