Lawyers of Brazilian great Ronaldinho, are hoping the former world player of the year will be allowed to go home after more than two months of detention in Paraguay over a forged passport.
“We’re hoping to convince the prosecution to allow Ronaldinho and his brother to return to their country. We can do nothing but wait for the investigation to end,” a defense source told AFP.
Former Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain star Ronaldinho and his brother, Robert de Assis Moreira, are facing up to five years in jail if convicted.
The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner and his brother posted bail of $1.6 million and have been under house arrest at the plush Palmaroga Hotel in the historic centre of the Paraguayan capital Asuncion since April 7.
The public prosecutor has six months to investigate the case, and has ordered the arrest of 18 in connection with it.
“There is not one single serious proof that incriminates him,” Rogelio Delgado, president of Paraguay’s footballers union told AFP.
“Although he has a luxury prison, it’s very unfair that he’s still being detained,” added Delgado, a former Paraguay international.
The 40-year-old Ronaldinho has been keeping a low profile since being released from behind bars, not least because of coronavirus lockdown measures.
“I was completely caught off guard when I found out that these passports were not valid,” Ronaldinho told Paraguayan newspaper ABC last month in his only public statement since his release.
Ronaldinho, considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, was crucial in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup win.
He and sibling Robert — who is also his business manager — initially encountered no problems after arriving in Asuncion from neighboring Brazil on March 4.
However, shortly after their arrival, the pair were taken into police custody when investigators raided their hotel following discovery that their passports were fake.
Ronaldinho, given a rock star’s welcome to Asuncion by around 2,000 children and teenagers, said the documents had been given to him by sponsors of a charity working with disadvantaged children.
The investigation has since expanded into a case of possible money laundering.
Nice update
Wow nice one best player
Ee wonders shall never end
I feel for him I know all this is to collect money from him
Star player
Lord of foothball
Good, but he should be vigilant next time. He has leant his lesson.
what!!!
when did this happen
for 2 month now, I didn’t even hear about his arrest
Ronaldinho and controversy
They should free him o nd go back to work, guess they want to teach him a lesson with that.
Shooting star
Has learned his lesson
They should let him go
I hope so ooooooo
He lent his lesson
Nice one
THEY SHOULD LET HIM GO
Grate player nice one
He as learnt is lesson
Hopefully
Why would he do something like that???
The best of them all
No one is above the law,I think he will learn from this