Barcelona court grants bail to convicted footballer Dani Alves for €1 million
Following his recent conviction for sexual assault, a Barcelona court has granted Dani Alves conditional release on a €1 million bail. The court's press office confirmed this decision on Wednesday, allowing Alves to be free pending further legal proceedings.
A Barcelona court has decided that Dani Alves, a former Brazilian soccer player, can be released from prison on bail. He has been asked to pay $1.08 million (one million euros) following his conviction for sexual assault last month. The court press office made this announcement on Wednesday.
Alves was sentenced by the Barcelona provincial court on February 22 to four-and-a-half years in prison. This was due to his involvement in sexually assaulting a woman at a nightclub in the city in late December 2022.
The court's ruling on Alves' bail, as seen by CNN, stated that he has spent 14 months in jail, from the time of his arrest in January 2023 in Barcelona until his recent conviction.
Alves' lawyer has confirmed plans to appeal the conviction and sentence. According to the bail decision, if Alves pays the $1.08 million bail, he must hand over his Spanish and Brazilian passports and check in with the court every week.
Dani Alves played for Barcelona and Brazil during his career.
Dani Alves played for Barcelona and Brazil during his career.
Hector Vivas/Getty Images
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Former soccer player Dani Alves has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years for sexual assault. Additionally, the court has issued a ruling stating that Alves must stay at least a kilometer (approximately 0.6 miles) away from the victim at all times. He is also prohibited from having any form of communication with her.
Two judges agreed with the bail ruling, but a third judge disagreed. The court mentioned that the decision is open to appeal.
CNN contacted the lawyers representing Alves and the victim, but did not receive a response from either of them right away.
Alves, aged 40, is known as one of the most successful soccer players of his time, achieving numerous domestic titles in Spain, Italy, and France. He secured three Champions League victories with Barcelona in 2009, 2011, and 2015, as well as the Copa América with Brazil in 2007 and 2019.
In a 61-page document from Alves' trial, reviewed by CNN, the three-judge panel stated that they found evidence confirming that the defendant forcibly grabbed the victim, threw her to the ground, and restricted her movements during a sexual assault that took place in December 2022.
That was “in spite of the plantiff saying no, that she wanted to leave,” the judges added. Alves insisted during the trial that the sexual relations were consensual.
Editor's P/S:
The release of Dani Alves on bail is a controversial decision that has sparked mixed reactions. While some believe that it is a just outcome given the time Alves has already spent in jail, others argue that it sends a dangerous message and undermines the seriousness of sexual assault. The fact that two judges agreed with the bail ruling while a third dissented highlights the complexity of the case and the difficulty in reaching a consensus on such a sensitive issue.
It is important to remember that Alves has been convicted of a serious crime and that the bail decision does not negate his guilt. The conditions imposed on his release, such as surrendering his passports and checking in with the court weekly, are designed to ensure that he does not flee or interfere with the victim. Ultimately, the decision of whether Alves is guilty or not will be determined by the outcome of the appeal process.
