Premier League - N'Zogbia arrested for fraud

Reuters - Thu, 22 Apr 10:00:00 2010

Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia could face up to 10 years in jail after being arrested on suspicion of getting someone else to take part of his driving test for him.

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The Frenchman, who scored a last minute winner for his side in their 3-2 victory over Arsenal on Sunday, was held by officers on Wednesday at a test centre in Greater Manchester.

His manager Roberto Martinez said that the player had been "badly advised".

Newspaper reports said staff from the centre had become suspicious about a man who turned up to take the theory part of the driving test some weeks ago.

They reported that 23-year-old N'Zogbia was arrested as he was about to get into a car with an examiner for the practical test.

"At about 8.30 am on Wednesday, police working alongside the Driving Standards Agency arrested a 23-year-old man at Sale driving test centre on suspicion of fraud by false representation," Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

N'Zogbia has been released on police bail until June 3.

"The way I see the whole situation is that Charles has been badly advised, and he's made a naive mistake," Martinez said.

"We're going to look into every single detail before I give my full side of the story but what is important is Charles has reacted in a very mature way.

"We'll collaborate with the police and with Charles to make sure we get out of this situation in a positive way."

The offence of fraud by false representation carries a maximum jail term of 10 years.

Reuters

Comment 142 - 161 of 161

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  1. This offence of getting another person to take your­ driving test is nothing new, in fact it is common­ practice within ethnic minority communities. I am not­ being racist in any way when I say this as I once­ worked at a private hire taxi firm and it was a regular­ thing for the drivers to take tests for other people.
    A­ part of our multi-cultural society I am sorry to­ say.
    Hey and how about ladies who wear the veil? now­ that would be so very simple to do.

    From Mo, on Tue 17 Aug 5:18
  2. Just face it something of these footballers are as daff­ as plank, its no surprise footballers not really clever­ people are they? no education, no skills, no prospects.­ Paid some crazy money to run all over the field,and in­ media. They aren't doing anything for charity or­ supporting them. There are so many poor children in­ this country that need help or clean bed to sleep or a­ nice warm bath instead splashing big bucks giving these­ waggnist who think they're are superstar.

    From YVONNE, on Tue 17 Aug 4:10
  3. hope he gets sent down for this as footballers tend to­ getaway with a load of stuff including speeding,­ nightclub fighting etc

    From Paul T, on Sat 24 Apr 1:46
  4. while this is a serious offense that no one condone­ with, we shouldn't go out of the issue at hand. we­ should understand that human beings by nature are­ corrupt. in that case crime is not foreign but domestic­ as well. we all accept that british courts are not set­ up for foreign criminals but brits as well. we all know­ that parliamentary expenses were not of italian,­ french, asian or african parliamentarians but brits. so­ crime is of no particular race so we shouldn't use­ this case to express our hate for other races and­ nationalities. for some of you who don't, the­ player in case doesn't need a work permit to play­ football in england as he is from france(EU) and has no­ restrictions doing his job in England

    From KIKI, on Fri 23 Apr 22:09
  5. i dont think he deserves 10 years for that but­ definatley 3 or 4 no one should get away with it not­ even Football players for once

    From helen, on Fri 23 Apr 21:50
  6. he will get off with it after all he is a footballer,­ seems to be a different law for footballers look no­ further then Stephen Gerrard self defence my arse,might­ have somthing to do with all their money.

    From LES, on Fri 23 Apr 21:44
  7. Well, well. What a carry on. Colour does not comit­ crime, CRIMINALS COMIT CRIME. I guess there­ aren't many white English criminals and thats why­ people come here - for a better safer life, eh?...­ dream on. Dont make excuses based on colour, creed or­ even weight. It is very true, we did go from country­ to country taking what and who we wanted, leaving chaos­ and disease (there was plenty of rape and murder too)­ all in the name of our Kings and Queens. For that, we­ must apologise and I certainly do. BUT, we have to­ accept that it was only a matter of time before every­ man, woman and child came to pay us a visit to take­ back some of the long overdue profit we took through­ our crimes. All the pliticians that are still robbing­ and stealing and cheating have left us venting our­ anger on the "mini-criminals" to detract us­ from what is really going on. The world is laughing­ at us and forming a nice tight "gang" without­ us. Why? Because we hate the Scottish, the Irish,­ Welsh, Greeks, Italians, Blacks, Asians, Ginger people,­ and sadly even our own children. Little wonder people­ are now happy to inflict suffering on us. If people­ are let in to claim what our forefathers took then I­ guess we have to give it up. Shame they have to que­ up at the benefit centre to get it when we are all ­ too aware that we British just marched in and took,­ took, took, jailing and killing anyone who dared to­ stop us. Our actions, and now the reactions, hurt us­ all but don't be too quick to say that it was­ history (there were laws even back then and it didnt­ stop us comitting the crimes we did) many, many British­ are banged up abroad daily. We put Europe and the­ world against us and we still continue to gather­ enemies by slinging insults. We have slept well and­ without concience for too long. If you are not afraid,­ we need to be - REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD. ­ Don't we just love to hate xx

    From debbssworld, on Fri 23 Apr 21:24
  8. 'even though I'm a premiership footballer,­ watched by thousands each week, nobody will notice if I­ get my un-identical mate to do my test for me' . I­ think he's been watching too much sweet valley­ high.

    From michael, on Fri 23 Apr 21:07
  9. If it had all gone to plan, Just think he could of gone­ out and spent loads of dosh on a flash fast car and­ killed someone or even alot of poeple. Throw the book­ at him!!

    From vickieward, on Fri 23 Apr 21:00
  10. Mick a or whatever you call your self I think you are­ the most stupid idiot and racist in that God forsaking­ UK you come from. if Africans can go back to their­ roots and stop traveling to Europe and America the best­ for them as these white pigs are just bent on ripping­ black people of while they come down to Africa,drive­ without any license and do as they like.

    From iykantonez, on Fri 23 Apr 20:38
  11. His manager Roberto Martinez said that the player had­ been "badly advised".

    Why do you need advice­ when taking a driving test? It is perfectly straight­ forward.

    "The way I see the whole situation is­ that Charles has been badly advised, and he's made­ a naive mistake," Martinez said.

    A naive mistake?­ I think people who cheat and lie like this are, apart­ from being too thick and stupid to take a driving test,­ rubbish who can go and kick a football in someone elses­ country.

    "We're going to look into every­ single detail before I give my full side of the story­ but what is important is Charles has reacted in a very­ mature way.

    He's 23 for god sake! He's acted­ in a mature way? Oh please...

    "We'll­ collaborate with the police and with Charles to make­ sure we get out of this situation in a positive­ way."

    Get out of it? I think in a­ "prison" way would be nice.

    We are all sick­ to death of these cheating types. Hope he gets maximum­ jail term and then deported.

    From Richard, on Fri 23 Apr 18:46
  12. Throw him in prison, anybody but a footballer would end­ up in prison so why not him. After all he deserves it­ for playing for wigan.
    BILLY DAVIES RED ARMY!

    From HELEN, on Fri 23 Apr 17:31
  13. Jail Him. Why not ? We don't all look the­ same after all do we ?

    From mick a, on Fri 23 Apr 16:30
  14. What is this? Some kind of joke? Just strip him from­ his license with a fine instead of 10-years-in-jail

    From ZAMIR, on Fri 23 Apr 14:19
  15. Typical this, the only really shining light at Wigan­ could be in jail for 10 years. Sounds like a typical­ WAFC story.

    From paulm, on Fri 23 Apr 14:11
  16. Let's take away the naive element from this­ deliberate act of law breaking. The guy is French and­ in France it is illegal to do what he did. Hell, even­ in Vietnam it would illegal. The guy was advised badly­ becasue of the people he is dealing with. What would­ you expect if you ask a drug dealer a thief or a pimp­ for advice? If N'Zogbia was naive, then every­ criminal has an element of nativity starting by the­ fact they think they would not get caught. I'd like­ to se him jailed for his crime for us common people to­ feel the law is above all

    From Half A Brain, on Fri 23 Apr 12:18
  17. It doesn't matter anyway, he could commit murder­ and be back for the W.Ham game.. Footballers are­ untouchable.

    Money speaks louder than justice.

    From Luke, on Fri 23 Apr 12:18
  18. NO INSURANCE,,,NO LISCENCE,,,NO FUTURE,,,,,,,,,NO­ SENS,,,,,,,,,,,A SPELL IN JAIL IS JUST WHAT THIS­ ARRAGANT YOUNG MAN NEEDS,,,,,IT IS NOT A QEUSTION OF­ DOSH,,,,,HE IS LOADED,,IT IS ARRAGANCE,,,,,6 MONTHS­ WITH HER MAJESTY WILL OPEN HIS EYES,,,,,,

    From Garry C, on Fri 23 Apr 12:12
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Rooneys house has to be big to fit that Fat B*****D

    From JOHN, on Fri 23 Apr 12:09
  20. ANOTHER POTENTIAL KILLER TAKEN OFF OUR ROADS,,,,BIG UP­ TO THE POLICE,,,,,,,

    From Garry C, on Fri 23 Apr 12:06
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