Mohamed Haouas, Montpellier colossus and pillar of the Blues, was arrested on Friday after violence against his wife on the public highway and then placed in pre-trial detention on Sunday. One more legal case for the player, whose chances of participating in the 2023 Rugby World Cup appear a little more compromised.
Mohamed Haouas, pillar of the XV of France of rugby, was placed in pre-trial detention on Sunday May 28, pending his trial for domestic violence which will be held on Tuesday in Montpellier, his lawyer said.
“The judge has decided, on a provisional basis, to place him in detention,” said Mr.e Marc Gallix, the player’s counsel, who had been placed in police custody on Friday evening after violence against his wife on the public highway in Montpellier. Violence for which the latter did not file a complaint, said the lawyer.
This new court case, after two trials for “youth mistakes”, further compromises the player’s chances of participating in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which is being held in France from September 8 to October 28.
Mohamed Haouas will be tried “Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in immediate appearance” before the Montpellier Criminal Court, explained his lawyer, specifying that his client was “prosecuted for domestic violence without ITT” and that he faced a maximum sentence of three years of detention.
Assault on his wife in front of witnesses
According to a source close to the case, the charges against the player of Montpellier Hérault Rugby (MHR) occurred Friday in the middle of the day, in front of a shopping center in Montpellier where his wife works.
After an argument broke out between them, “he gave her a brush (kicked her ankle to make someone fall, editor’s note), she fell and he hit her in the face”, added the same source, pointing out that several people had witnessed the scene, also captured by CCTV cameras.
“If they are established, the acts of domestic violence alleged against Mohamed Haouas are unacceptable”, reacted Saturday in a tweet the Minister of Sports and the Olympic Games, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra.
If established, the acts of domestic violence alleged against Mohamed Haouas are unacceptable. Justice will now quickly shed light on the situation so that all the necessary consequences are drawn, both criminally and sportingly. https://t.co/mCnzI5gjBD
— Amelie Oudea-Castera (@AOC1978) May 27, 2023
“Mistakes of Youth”
Aged 29, married and father of two children, Mohamed Haouas has already experienced the bench of the defendants of the Montpellier judicial court twice, for acts committed in his youth, almost ten years ago.
In February 2022, the international (16 caps) was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence for his role in burglaries in 2014, when he was not yet a professional rugby player.
On May 12, during his second appearance in court, he appeared for “aggravated violence” and “destruction of the property of others committed in a meeting”, facts dating back to 2014. He was tried with five friends for a fight. a rare violence.
“My goal is to never come back to court again,” said Mohamed Haouas, against whom two years in prison, suspended, were required, adding that he definitely wanted to turn the page on “youthful mistakes”.
“It’s not good what we did that day, I’m sorry, it’s not a source of pride. When you’re young, you do stupid things. But I’m looking to evolve, I decided to leave from Montpellier before the end of my contract to change everything, change house, city, life”, he defended himself.
Violence on the pitch
Montpellier player since the start of his career, Mohamed Haouas has signed for three years, starting next season, with Clermont.
“Montpellier Hérault Rugby would like to remind you that it condemns all acts of violence of any kind and expects exemplary behavior from its employees. The club’s management, which will not make any further comment, is awaiting court decisions and will then determine the follow-up to be given concerning this case”, reacted the Hérault club in a press release.
This new case could be the final blow to the international career of Mohamed Haouas, a few days before the announcement, on June 21 by Fabien Galthié, the coach of the Blues, of the 42 players selected for the Rugby World Cup in France. .
Read also Rugby World Cup 2023: the Blues focused on their quest for a first coronation
On this date, the conviction of Mohamed Haouas for his second trial will not yet be known, the deliberation being scheduled for June 30.
Appearing like a meteorite within the XV of France at the beginning of the Galthié era, quickly indisputable holder, the Montpellier colossus (1.85 m, 123 kg) then fell back in the hierarchy of the pillars of the XV of France.
The fault with less successful sports performances first. But also because of two strokes of blood sanctioned by two red cards, each time against Scotland, during the Six Nations Tournament: in 2020, for a punch in the face, then this year, for a headbutt this time.
With AFP
