Three convictions
The trial over the fake Equatorial Guinea passports used during the 2014-15 ACB season by Marcus Slaughter, then with Real Madrid, and Andy Panko, then with Fuenlabrada, has ended with three convictions.
Panko, former Equatorial Guinean player Richard Nguema, who had the contacts to arrange and obtain the documents, and Julián Aranda, the Spanish representative of Beo Basket, the agency representing both players, were found responsible for forgery of an official document and forgery of a certificate.
The verdict can still be appealed. Slaughter was not tried, as authorities were unable to serve him with the summons and he did not appear at the trial.
Hugo López acquitted
Former Real Madrid assistant coach Hugo López was acquitted.
The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence against him beyond a number of indications, including providing Nguema’s phone number, speaking with Aranda by telephone and a subsequent conversation.
The identical passport number
The case emerged after Panko submitted an Equatorial Guinea passport to the ACB, which would have granted him European-player status under the Cotonou Agreement.
However, the passport had the same number as Slaughter’s document. The Spanish Basketball Federation alerted authorities, eventually leading to the discovery that both passports were fake.
The documents could provide an advantage in the management of non-EU players. Slaughter was the only one of the two players who actually benefited from the status, although he was registered as an American again for the playoffs.
Real Madrid already had two non-EU players in Gustavo Ayón and Facundo Campazzo, with only two allowed to be active at the same time. When Slaughter was registered again as an American, Campazzo was left out of the playoffs.
The sentences
For forgery of an official document, Nguema received 10 months in prison and five months of fines, with a daily rate of €10.
Panko and Aranda were each sentenced to five months in prison and four months of fines.
For forgery of a certificate, Nguema received a five-month fine, while Panko and Aranda were each given two months and 15 days of fines.
Barcelona joined the case
Barcelona, who lost the 2015 Liga final to Real Madrid, appeared in the trial as a private prosecutor.
The Catalan club had initially requested two and a half years in prison for the player and his agents. The verdict could now lead to further developments on the sporting side as well.
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