Trial begins for French football stars accused of sleeping with underage prostitute

The trial of two French football stars accused of sleeping with an underage prostitute started today.
Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema could face jail for allegedly paying for sex with Zahia Dehar.
The French-Algerian call girl was between 16 and 17 years old when the accused are alleged to have slept with her between 2008 and 2009.

Accused: Franck Ribery, right, and Karim Benzema, left, were today facing jail for allegedly paying for sex with an underage prostitute

Trial: Both footballers are accused of having slept with Zahia Dehar, a French-Algerian call girl, between 2008 and 2009, when she was between 16 and 17 years old

At the opening of the men’s trial at Paris Correctional Court, a lawyer for Ribery said the France and Bayern Munich midfielder had ‘no idea’ that Dehar was underage during their relationship.
It involved 30-year-old Ribery, who is married and a devout Muslim, flying Dehar from Paris to Munich ‘as a birthday present to himself’.
The age of consent in France is 15, and prostitution is legal, but only if both parties are over the age of 18.
If found guilty, Ribery and 25-year-old Benzema, who plays for France and Real Madrid, face a maximum jail sentence of three years and fines equivalent to around £40,000.
Benzema denies having any sexual relationship with Dehar whatsoever, despite her telling police the opposite in 2010.

She was interviewed by detectives investigating a vice ring at the Zaman Cafe, on the Champs Elysee, which has since been shut down.
Top footballers, including many playing for David Beckham’s old club Paris St Germain, were said to have used the club to pick up prostitutes.
Nine men have so far been charged with offences related to the enquiry, including Ribery’s brother-in-law.
Neither Ribery, Benzema nor prosecution witness Dehar appeared at today’s hearing, which heard that Dehar had been a prostitute since the age of 15, but always told clients she was 18.
Court documents reveal that she attended Ribery’s 26th birthday party in a hotel in 2009, and afterwards he paid her the equivalent of 600 pounds for sex.
Ribery’s lawyer, Carlo-Alberto Brusa, said his client was innocent and there had been no reason for Ribery to question a prostitute’s age.
‘When a woman travels around Europe by plane, can you imagine thinking for one second that she is a minor,’ said Mr Brusa.
Benzema is suspected of having paid the equivalent of some 400 pounds for sex with Dehar in a Paris hotel suite in May 2008.
Dehar’s lawyer, Daniel Vaconsin, said she would only turn up in court if asked.
She is now a celebrity in France, having appeared on numerous reality TV shows and started her own lingerie range. The trial is expected to run until June 26.