Moroccan-Dutch footballer Ismail H’Maidat has been sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison for robbery.
Rabat – The 23-year-old was prosecuted for carrying out five armed robberies near Turnhout, Belgium, on December 31, 2017, New Year’s Eve, and on January 6, 2018.
H’Maidat and his accomplice stole cash from betting shops, a supermarket, and a gas station. He must serve at least 20 months before he is eligible for parole.
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On March 13, police arrested him through tracing CCTV footage, license plate recognition, and a search of phone records.
H’Maidat begin his senior football career with Anderlecht in 2014 before heading to Italy to sign with Brescia the following year and then with Roma in 2016.
Since this time, he was transferred to two Italian clubs while on loan before joining Portuguese club Olhanense.
The footballer has been a notorious troublemaker. His latest club, Westerlo, fired him in January 2018 for outrageous behavior off the pitch.
The midfielder reportedly earns £9,000 a month, and was transferred to Roma for £3.5 million in 2016.
H’Maidat made his first international appearance with Morocco’s national football team in 2016, with a friendly 4-0 win over Canada in October of the same year.