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.
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.
Comment 142 - 161 of 161
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.
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.
hope he gets sent down for this as footballers tend to getaway with a load of stuff including speeding, nightclub fighting etc
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
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
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.
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
'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.
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!!
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.
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.
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!
Jail Him. Why not ? We don't all look the same after all do we ?
What is this? Some kind of joke? Just strip him from his license with a fine instead of 10-years-in-jail
Typical this, the only really shining light at Wigan could be in jail for 10 years. Sounds like a typical WAFC story.
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
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.
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,,,,,,
Rooneys house has to be big to fit that Fat B*****D
ANOTHER POTENTIAL KILLER TAKEN OFF OUR ROADS,,,,BIG UP TO THE POLICE,,,,,,,
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