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Dutch-born Russian footballer Quincy Promes to appeal court sentence on assault charge

An Amsterdam court on June 19 sentenced Promes in absentia to 18 months behind bars on charges of assaulting his cousin

MOSCOW, June 19. /TASS/. Dutch-born forward Quincy Promes of the Russian Premier League’s Spartak Moscow Football Club will exercise his right to appeal an Amsterdam court ruling against him, Dmitry Zelenov, the head of Spartak Moscow FC’s press office, said on Monday.

An Amsterdam court on June 19 sentenced Promes in absentia to 18 months behind bars on charges of assaulting his cousin.

"The court’s decision has not taken effect yet and the footballer has time to appeal it," Zelenov told journalists. "We believe that Promes’ defense lawyers will exercise his right" to appeal the verdict.

Promes’ lawyer, Robert Malevich, confirmed to TASS later in the day that his client was set to file an appeal to have the ruling handed down by the Amsterdam court overruled.

"My client will file an appeal against the ruling of the Amsterdam [lower] court," Malevich said. "He [Promes] is set to request that his sentence be overturned. The High Court of Amsterdam will give the entire case a thorough hearing."

"After that, my client would also be entitled to file a cassational appeal to the Supreme Court [of the Netherlands]. As of now, no definitive and final verdict that must be executed has been handed down," he added.

Promes, who plays striker for the Spartak Moscow side, was charged with assault for an incident involving his cousin, where the former allegedly inflicted a knife wound on the latter during a family party in 2020. On top of the 18-month jail term, the Dutch court also ordered Promes to pay 7,000 euros in financial damages. The prosecution in the case initially asked that the athlete be given two years’ incarceration.

Promes, 31, joined Spartak Moscow FC in 2014 and, according to official statistics, the forward has already chalked up 37 goals and 74 assists playing for the legendary Russian football club.

However, Promes also figures as a suspect in a case involving the cross-border smuggling of two batches of heroin seized at the Antwerp, Belgium, airport in 2020. The court hearing regarding this case is scheduled for August 11.

Throughout its 101-year history, Spartak Moscow FC has been a 12-time USSR champion and ten-time champion of Russia. The team is the winner of numerous other awards and trophies. Spartak Moscow FC finished in second place in the Russian Premier League’s 2020/2021 season.

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