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EXCLUSIVE: Ghanaian-born Togo defender Eric Akoto freed from narcotic charges in Austria

By ghanasoccernet.com
Sports News EXCLUSIVE: Ghanaian-born Togo defender Eric Akoto freed from narcotic charges in Austria
OCT 21, 2014 LISTEN

Ghanaian-born Togo defender Eric Akoto has been freed from prison after he was mistakenly arrested for possessing herbs believed to be marijuana in Austria, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

The 34-year-old was arrested early this month alongside other Africans in a Police swoop but has now been freed after it emerged he was innocent of the charges leveled against him.

It was clear case of finding himself at the wrong place during the Police raid and has been exonerated from all charges but the other men are being held in custody for further interrogation.

The defender, who is officially on the books of Austria Klagenfurt, has vowed to clear his name after his image was battered and has threatened to take legal action against the media outlet which published the story without cross checking their fact.

“My image has been bruised and I am extremely unhappy about what has happened,” he told GHANAsoccernet.com.

“I have never been involved in drug trafficking. I am working on my UEFA license B certificate so how can I jeopardize my future like that? he quizzed

“I have been unfairly treated by some of the journalists who went ahead to disgrace me without being abreast with the fact of the case.

“I was caught up in the middle of the whole episode because the people were my friends. I had no idea they were doing drugs and so was a clear case of finding myself at the wrong place.

“And that is why I have been exonerated and released after investigation. My lawyer is looking at the next line of action to take because it very painful.

“After what I have achieved in my career, why should I entangle myself in drugs? It's very painful but I will seek for the necessary reliefs in court soon.”

The former Austria Bundesliga player started his football career in Ghana where he played for Liberty Professionals before eventually moving to Austria in 1998.

He switched nationality to play for Togo at the international level where he was part of the Hawks squad at the 2006 World Cup.

The former Austria Wien man was also part of the Togo team that infamously came under gun fire attack a day before the start of the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola.

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