体坛英语新闻：Former FC Bayern Munich boss allowed to take parole during Christmas

MUNICH, Germany, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Former president of Bayern Munich Football Club Uli Hoeness is allowed to take his first overnight parole with his family during Christmas, a spokesman for the Bavarian Ministry of Justice confirmed Wednesday.

It is the first time since seven months for Hoeness to spend Christmas holidays, which lasts from Dec. 25 to 26 in Germany, overnight at home with his family.

"Tax evader Uli Hoeness could go home for Christmas, because this is a good tradition in Free State (Bavaria). There is no risk of fleeing or new criminal acts, so his holiday is permitted," according to the spokesman.

The spokesman emphasized that there is no privilege in Hoeness' case.

In fact, the number of prisoners, who are allowed to go home for Christmas, is very small. In 2013, about 773 of 12,000 prisoners in Bavaria received permit for holiday during this time.

Hoeness was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison in March after he was found guilty of tax evasion by a German court.