Pele's son Edinho in jail over drug trafficking charges

- Edinho, the son of Pele has been jailed for a nearly 13-year prison sentence

- The Brazil legend's son played briefly for his father's former club Santos

- Edinho was initially arrested in 2005 following a raid on a drug trafficking gang

The son of Brazil legend Pele will begin serving a nearly 13-year prison sentence after being ordered by a Brazilian court.

Pele (right) and his son Edinho

The former footballer has been charged with money laundering and drug trafficking.

Edson "Edinho" Cholbi do Nascimento, had so far avoided serving time while his case underwent a lengthy appeals process.

But on Thursday a judge who reaffirmed the conviction, reduced Edinho's original 2014 sentence from 33 years to 12 years and 10 months.

Edinho who briefly played for his father's former club Santos was ordered to begin serving time.

 

The 46-year-old former goalkeeper spoke to reporters before turning himself in at a police station in the Brazilian port city of Santos.

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There's great frustration because I am being accused of money laundering, but I never did that," he said," according to the G1 news portal.

Edinho was accused of laundering based on phone tap evidence and was first arrested in 2005 following a police swoop on a drug trafficking gang.

The former goalkeeper has said he will continue to fight the allegations and that his only contact with drug traffickers was as a drug user.

Edinho who is one of seven children of three-time world champion Pele has formerly served six months in prison but was then released on parole.

Edinho after he was initially jailed

Pele is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time and won three World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970.