Brazil's Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) on Friday ordered the release of Edinho, a former goalkeeper and son of Brazil's soccer legend Pele, saying there as not enough evidence to keep him in prison on charges of money laundering and drug trafficking.

Edinho, whose full name is Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, was arrested in June last year after police in Santos, a city 100 km from Sao Paulo, broke up a ring of drug traffickers.

Edinho, 36, was cleared of another related charge using the same habeas corpus appeal, at the end of 2005, by STF judge Gilmar Mendes. He is now entitled to leave jail this Friday.

Edinho has been in jail in Tremebeme, close to Sao Paulo, since February when he was formally accused of money laundering. He has always denied the criminal charges, but has admitted to being an addict.

Edinho's father is Pele, whose name at birth was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, but is better known in Brazil as the king of soccer.