His past caught up with him. The pillar of Montpellier and the XV of France Mohamed Haouas was sentenced this Friday, February 4 to eighteen months in prison suspended and 15,000 euros fine, for his involvement in burglaries of tobacco shops in Montpellier eight years ago. year.
Initially scheduled for January 2021 and postponed several times, this trial before the Montpellier Criminal Court deprived the Montpellier Hérault Rugby player, current 2nd in the Top 14, of the opening match of the Six Nations Tournament with the Blues on Sunday against Italy.
“It is an exemplary course for young people, and I take it into account. He wants to settle his debt, close this chapter”, had recognized the prosecutor, asking “eighteen months in prison with a suspended sentence and 15,000 euros fine” against the pillar of the France team. An indictment followed to the letter by the court.
Mohamed Haouas was 19 years old at the time of the events. The rugby player, who grew up in the popular district of Petit Bard in Montpellier, was thus guilty of these facts with an accomplice. His co-defendant, who was appearing as a detainee, was sentenced to eighteen months in prison. A third man, a minor at the time, was referred to a juvenile judge.
His background had not prevented Haouas, a former resident of the national navy, from being called up to the France team for the first time at the start of 2020, he who had a tortuous path before reaching the top level. “The past, I don’t care. Me, what matters to me is the player I met, the person I met, “said forwards coach William Servat.