Rugby: Mohamed Haouas sentenced to nine months in prison for "aggravated violence" in 2014

Rugby player Mohamed Haouas, former player of Montpellier and the XV of France, was sentenced on Friday to 18 months in prison, including nine firm, for "aggravated violence" committed during a fight on January 1, 2014, a so-called case from the bakery. As a reminder, the prosecutor had requested at the beginning of May 24 months in prison with a probationary sentence of 36 months.

This new conviction of the pillar, which is added to a one-year prison sentence pronounced in May for domestic violence, makes possible the imprisonment of the player, according to his lawyer Marc Gallix, who has announced his intention to appeal.

The decision in itself "is not severe", because "we can clearly see (on the videos, editor's note) that he is the most virulent of all, that he strikes very violent blows", during this fight which occurred on January 1, 2014, recognized Me Gallix after the announcement of his client's sentence to 18 months in prison, including nine months in prison.

“But the penalties are only adjustable 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 imprisoned, "continued the player's lawyer, absent Friday at the hearing.

By appealing, the lawyer explains that he hopes 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 rules, which could take two years. This would prevent the player, at the end of his contract with his club Montpellier (MHR), from being sent behind bars.

Already sentenced in February 2022 for acts of burglary dating back to 2014 to 18 months suspended prison sentence (and 15,000 euros fine), Mohamad Haouas responded this time to facts of "aggravated violence" and "destruction of equipment in meetings" dating back on January 1, 2014 in the morning. A brawl in a Montpellier bakery for which the civil party held him responsible

At the material time, the pillar of the MHR and the XV of France was 19 years old. During the hearing, which lasted nearly 7 hours, Mohamed Haouas assured that he had taken the first shot. What would have started a very violent fight, Haouas and ten of his friends entering the bakery to beat the owner with fists, feet and iron bars and ravage everything inside. The video images show him thus equipped with a metal parasol base smashing a display.

“There was nothing proportional in the actions of these young men, there was an outpouring of hatred. We saw a pack of wolves throw themselves on an individual, “said the representative of the prosecution at the time. “I want to apologize to the family and to the bakery. It's not good what we did that day, I'm sorry, it's not a source of pride, ”replied Mohamed Haouas.

The judge of freedoms and detention should announce in the fall the terms of execution of this sentence by the player. 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 Mohamed Haouas, 29, , "to practice his profession", explained Marc Gallix.