Former Marathon Champion Arrested for Theft, Struggles with Homelessness

The police have once again arrested the young Moroccan, Jaouad Tougane. He was in possession of several stolen items that he intended to resell later, reports elconfidencial.com. Surveillance cameras at the scene spotted him twice.

According to the Valencia newspaper, Las Provincias, a debt of 1,500 euros, which he is trying to repay by all means, would be the origin of the repeated thefts of the winner of the 2018 Valencia marathon. It is an amount of money that he owes to one of his acquaintances.

Already, last summer, this 5000m specialist was arrested and identified as the author of several small-scale thefts, which had never exceeded 400 euros. Subsequently, the athlete experienced a deep depression. Indeed, he took the rejection of his friends very badly. "My friends have closed the doors of their homes," he wrote on his Facebook account. As a result, he finds himself homeless.

But this situation has not discouraged Jaouad Tougane. He intends to resume the normal course of his life. On his Facebook account, he posts a moving text. "I’m not doing well right now. I’m really sorry, my friends. I would like to be able to rebuild my life. I have to continue to live on the street after a month," he wrote. His emotional side has not left him. He leaves a laconic message to his mother: "I would like to be able to find my mother’s smile again". A message that could mean that the athlete wants to return to Morocco.