Pascal Richard sentenced for fraud

By Susan Westemeyer

Pascal Richard has been sentenced to four months probation on fraud charges. The Swiss Olympic gold medallist was found guilty of fraud and misdirection of justice in a Swiss court.

The Tribune de Geneve reported that Richard was himself the victim of a swindler about four years ago. He had met a man who promised to increase Richard's money, and invited the man to his house. The mystery man subsequently disappeared with 200,000 Swiss Francs.

Richard called the police, but instead of explaining how he had fallen victim to a swindler, he said simply that money had been stolen. He also claimed that four clocks or watches with a value of 20,000 Swiss Francs had been stolen, although he had sold two of them. "I had lost everything and was ashamed to tell the truth," Pascal said.

Pascal's defence claimed that at the time of the occurrence, the former pro cyclist was suffering from emotional problems stemming from his divorce.