Five to go on trial for alleged kidnapping of Marquinhos’ family

L’Équipe report this morning that five men suspected of a breaking into the home of Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos’ father and holding him and the defender’s two sisters hostage are now set to go on trial.

The centre-back’s family had been at home in Chatou – in the Paris suburbs – and preparing to watch Marquinhos take on Nantes on March 14, 2021, when two individuals wearing balaclavas entered the home.

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The intruders would proceed to ask for jewellery, watches and money, before the bigger of the two elbowed the Brazilian’s father in the ribs after the latter told them he had nothing. The smaller of the men, described as the leader of the operation by the victims, then forced the two sisters – aged 14 and 16 – to follow him as he searched around the ground floor.

Having searched the house, and with one of the intruders continuing to punch the father, they then led the three victims into a closet and made off with €2,400, a golden bracelet and two luxury handbags.

The Versailles public prosecutor has now called for four of the five suspects to be tried in court, while a fifth individual will appear in a minors’ court. Investigators notably tracked down the suspects thanks to a stolen Peugeot 308 GT, which was filmed near the scene of the crime and was already being monitored by police.

After four of the alleged culprits were arrested on May 18, 2021, the minor admitted that he had moved the car at the request of an older individual but was unaware that it would be used for a robbery. The three others, aged 21, 29, and 30 years old had denied this but two of them had their fingerprints found on a balaclava in the car. They were then placed under investigation for “robbery with violence”, “kidnapping” and “criminal conspiracy” while the minor was placed under judicial supervision. All of the individuals have denied their involvement in the events.

A fifth suspect was arrested last April. The man, who was already incarcerated for home robberies, is nicknamed “Pikachu“, and is of small stature. Investigators are convinced that he was the second intruder, although he also denied these accusations. Marquinhos’ father has nevertheless identified the individual as indeed being one of the robbers.

A trial could be set to take place before the end of the year.