Rugby player Mohamed Haouas, now a former player for Montpellier and the XV of France, was sentenced this Friday, June 30 to 18 months in prison, nine of which are closed for “aggravated violence” during a fight almost 10 years ago. Montpellier. This new conviction by the Montpellier Criminal Court, which is in addition to a one-year prison sentence pronounced in May for domestic violence, makes it possible for the player to be imprisoned, according to his lawyer, Me Marc Gallix, who announced his intention to appeal.
The decision “is not severe”
The decision in itself “is not severe”, because “we can see that he is the most virulent of all, that he strikes very violent blows”, during this fight which occurred on January 1, 2014, admitted Me Gallix after the announcement of the judgment. “But the sentences can only be adjusted up to one year in prison. If we add today’s firm nine months to the 12 months for domestic violence, if I do not appeal and the sentence becomes final, he is incarcerated”, continued the player’s lawyer, absent at the hearing on Friday.
The lawyer explained that by appealing, he would hope that Mohamed Haouas can first serve his 12-month prison sentence in an adapted form (electronic bracelet or parental parole), while the court of appeal decides. , which could take two years. This would prevent Mohamed Haouas from being imprisoned, he said.
The pillar with 16 selections for the France team, tried in immediate appearance, was sentenced to one year in prison on May 30 by the Montpellier Criminal Court for hitting his wife in front of the shopping center where she works. The judge of freedom and detention should announce in the fall the procedures that he will have to respect for the follow-up of this sentence. The option of parental parole, probably accompanied by psychological monitoring and an awareness course on domestic violence, would be “preferable” to that of wearing an electronic bracelet because it would allow the 29-year-old player “to ‘to practice his profession’, explained Marc Gallix.
A fight dating back to January 2014
On May 12, he appeared with five childhood friends, for “aggravated violence” and “destruction of the property of others committed in a meeting”. On January 1, 2014, coming out of a night at a disco, he stopped with a dozen friends in a bakery, where a brawl had pitted them against the boss of a nightclub who had stopped at the same place to buy pastries. Comparing the six defendants to “a pack of wolves”, the prosecutor then underlined the role of “leader” of the former MHR player, who should normally play at the Clermont club from next season.
This Monday the industrial tribunal has indeed rejected the ASM Clermont Auvergne of its request to suspend the employment contract of Mohamed Haouas. The Clermont club has 15 days to appeal. On June 7, the coach of the France team Fabien Galthié confirmed that the former Montpellier player would not be selected for the World Cup in France in the fall. The previous week, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) had already considered that the player’s actions were “incompatible” with a selection for the France team.