Footballer Dani Alves was given €1 million bail by a Spanish court to appeal his conviction for r@pe.
In the interim, while his rape conviction in Barcelona is appealed, former Brazilian football player Dani Alves must give up his passports and be released from prison on a €1 million bail, determined a Spanish judge.
Following his conviction for the 2022 rape of a woman in a nightclub, Alves was sentenced to four years and six months in jail. During the three-day trial, he remained adamantly innocent.
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When he was taken into custody in January 2023, he was incarcerated. Previous bail release appeals were denied by the court because it deemed the man to be a flight risk and since Brazil does not extradite its citizens who are convicted overseas.
Along with the bail amount, 40-year-old Alves must now turn in his Spanish and Brazilian passports in order to be released, and he is not allowed to leave the nation. In addition, he is not allowed to approach the victim or get in touch with her within 1,000 metres, and he has to appear at the courthouse once a week. He still lives close to the city.
The ruling was made one day after Alves, through his attorney Inés Guardiola, assured the court via video conference that he had no plans to leave the nation.
Guardiola has challenged the conviction, as has the state prosecutor. While the prosecution wants to extend his prison term to nine years, his defence is asking to be cleared. The victim’s attorney is seeking a 12-year sentence for him. There is no set date for the retrial in a Barcelona higher court. After that, the matter may be taken to Madrid’s Supreme Court.
Related: Brazilian Court Rules Robinho Must Serve Rape Sentence in Brazil
Alves was found guilty and the court mandated that he pay the victim €150,000 in compensation. He was also prohibited from going to the victim’s house or place of employment and from contacting her in any way for a period of nine years.
When he was captured, he was a member of the Mexican team Pumas. Pumas immediately ended his contract.
Alves had numerous championships with prestigious teams, such as Barcelona. He won an Olympic gold medal and two Copa Americas for Brazil. He was a member of Barcelona’s 2008–16 team, which he helped win three Champions Leagues. In 2022, he made a temporary return to the team.
