Former Wigan -Atletic defender Ronnie Stam is accused of smuggling two tons of cocaine in the
The Netherlands.
If it is found guilty, the 40-year-old 13 years could be confronted in prison.
Stam appeared on Tuesday in front of a Dutch court in Breda next to his 43-year-old brother, Rudi, where they were accused of sending cocaine from South America to the Netherlands in 2020 and 2021.
Prosecutors revealed that they discovered evidence of the drug shipments via coded chats sent between the brothers on their phones.
The persecution added photos of cocaine in the exchange of messages between two.
The public prosecutor asked to be imprisoned until 2038, along with a fine of € 1.7 million (£ 1.44 million) on his role in the alleged crimes.
Read also: Arocodare called in the Belgian Pro League team of the season
Rudi could only be confronted in prison for six years, as well as the same fine if he is also found guilty.
Stam confirmed to the court that he was part of a 20 kg shipping to Germany in 2020.
However, he denied further participation in the alleged crimes.
He was first taken into custody after he was arrested last June.
Stam arrived in July 2010 in Wigan from the Dutch side FC Twente.
At Twente, Stam won the Eredivisie under Steve McLaren for the first time in the history of the club.
His performances during the successful campaign from 2009/10 saw Stam called the player of the season of Twente.
After switching to Wigan, Stam made 73 performances about all competitions for the club and in 2013 was part of their triumphant FA Cup team.
He played in the third, fourth and fifth rounds of the competition, but remained an unused replacement for their quarter -final and semi -final collisions against Everton and Millwall respectively.
The Dutchman was omitted from the MatchDay team for the final because of an injury when the Latics won a stunning 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Wigan was relegated in what turned out to be Stam’s last season in the club.
After the relegation of Wigan in 2013, Stam joined the Belgian Club Standard Liège on a free transfer.
He spent three seasons with the Belgian side before returning to NAC Breda, the club where he started his professional career.
Talksport.com
#Cup #Eredivisie #title #winner #years #prison #cocaine #smuggling