The Barcelona court rejected the appeals of the prosecution and the civil party against the release of former footballer Dani Alves this Wednesday April 10. He was sentenced for rape to four and a half years in prison on February 22, then released on March 25 after paying bail of one million euros.
Published on: 04/10/2024 – 5:20 p.m.
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The Barcelona court announced, in a press release published this Wednesday April 10, that it rejected “ appeals presented against the decision granting bail to detainee Daniel Alves “. The former footballer of FC Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain had obtained this release upon payment of a deposit of one million euros, a sum which he had taken five days to reunite.
He was released on March 25 from Brians 2 prison in San Esteban Sasroviras, 40 kilometers northwest of Barcelona, and made no statement. Accused of the rape of a young woman on the night of December 30 to 31, 2022 in a nightclub in Barcelona, Dani Alves was placed in pre-trial detention upon his arrest a few days later. In February 2024, he was given a four and a half year prison sentence and therefore remained behind bars.
Appeals filed due to fear of leak
His lawyer, who appealed this conviction, had filed a request for release, while both the prosecution and the civil party were opposed, considering that the risk of flight was significant. The Barcelona court finally gave the green light to this release pending the appeal trial but on condition of the payment of a deposit of one million euros, the withdrawal of his two Spanish and Brazilian passports and the ban on leaving Spain.
He is also prohibited from approaching within one kilometer of the victim’s home or place of work and from coming into contact with her. The player must report to the Barcelona court every Friday. The prosecution and the civil party also appealed his sentence of four and a half years’ imprisonment, considering it too low. During his trial, Alves, aged 40, assured that the sexual relationship was consensual but his defense had been weakened by his numerous changes of versions, pinned down by the prosecution.
Read alsoSpain: ex-footballer Dani Alves leaves prison after paying his bail
