{"id":984846,"date":"2022-02-10T16:48:28","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T16:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/02\/10\/west-ham-defender-fined-250k-and-faces-possible-four-year-jail-term\/"},"modified":"2022-02-10T16:48:28","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T16:48:28","slug":"west-ham-defender-fined-250k-and-faces-possible-four-year-jail-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/02\/10\/west-ham-defender-fined-250k-and-faces-possible-four-year-jail-term\/","title":{"rendered":"West Ham defender fined \u00a3250k and faces possible four year jail term"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Goal.com\"<\/div>\n

West Ham has fined defender, Kurt Zouma two weeks wages after he was filmed kicking and hitting his pet cat.<\/p>\n

The club initially condemned the Frenchman\u2019s actions after the video emerged understood to be \u00a3250,000 which will be donated to animal welfare charities.<\/p>\n

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Kaveh Solhekol reports that Kurt Zouma has been fined by West Ham, and his cats have been taken away by the RSPCA after a disturbing video emerged of him hitting and kicking his pet.
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Kurt Zouma\u2019s cats have been taken away by the RSPCA\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zouma\u00a0has seen his two pet cats taken into care by the RSPCA as a result of the video with the charity and Essex Police investigating the incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur priority is and has always been the wellbeing of these cats,\u201d an RSPCA spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve been taken for a check-up at a vets and then will remain in our care while the investigation continues.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Update on viral footage of cats
We’d like to reassure people that we’re investigating and the cats are safe and in our care. We have been dealing with this since before the clip went viral online and we need to follow the proper legal process and not discuss due to UK GDPR laws. pic.twitter.com\/LticInSmpn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 RSPCA (England & Wales) (@RSPCA_official) February 9, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Adidas has meanwhile confirmed Zouma is no longer associated with the company after \u201cinvestigating the incident internally\u201d.<\/p>\n

A statement from Adidas read, \u201cWe have concluded our investigation and can confirm Kurt Zouma is no longer an Adidas contracted athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adidas had earlier said: \u201cNo animal should be subject to cruel and unwarranted abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kurt Zouma could face four years in prison in France<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 27-years-old has also seen a complaint filed in his homeland that could see him face up to four years in prison under tough new animal protection laws.<\/p>\n

A legal complaint has been filed against Zouma in Paris with lawyers working for the 30 Million Friends Foundation ( La Fondation 30 Millions d\u2019Amis ), the largest animal rights group in France, according to media sources.<\/p>\n

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A spokesman for the Foundation said: \u2018We condemn this heinous act, have asked that the player be suspended from the France team, and filed a legal complaint against him.\u2019<\/p>\n

According to article 113-6 in the French Penal Code, a French citizen can be prosecuted for criminal acts carried out abroad.<\/p>\n

Strict new animal protection laws were introduced in France last year, meaning that the \u2018mistreatment of animals\u2019 is now punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine equivalent to \u00a350,000.<\/p>\n

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