Arsenal star van Persie arrested on rape charges
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-15 09:35

Arsenal's Dutch striker Robin van Persie was arrested Monday night on rape charges, prosecutors said.

Arsenal's Dutch striker Robin van Persie, seen here in May 2005, was arrested Monday night on rape charges, prosecutors said. [AFP]

"He was arrested last night and is considered a suspect following an allegation of rape," public prosecutors' spokesman Jeichin de Graaf told AFP.

Police can hold van Persie, 21, for a maximum of three days without a formal charge.

The prosecution spokeswoman would not give any additional information.

Under the Dutch legal system prosecutors can alter the charges against a suspect up until trial and even during the proceedings.

Later Tuesday, it was confirmed that the player was to be held in custody overnight.

Van Persie, who has at present not been charged with any offence, will see a judge on Wednesday when a decision could be made on whether to lay charges or possibly to free the Holland international.

The incident allegedly happened over the weekend when van Persie was in Rotterdam with the Dutch squad for World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Finland.

Van Persie joined Arsenal from Feyenoord last summer and after an indifferent start which saw him involved in some on-field clashes he finished the season in style by helping the London side beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final and secure second in The English Premiership.

He made his international debut as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Romania in Rotterdam 10 days ago and he scored his first international goal after coming on as a substitute again in a 4-0 win over Finland in Helsinki last Wednesday.

Holland are top of European qualifying Group One and on course for next year's World Cup finals in Germany.

In October last year van Persie made headlines when he crashed his car in London. He left the scene of the accident unharmed and the wrecked car unattended.

Van Persie was due back at Arsenal for pre-season training at the start of July. A spokesman for the club refused to comment on the arrest.

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