Ronaldinho set for release after six months in Paraguayan penal system over fake passports
RONALDINHO is set to be released from the Paraguayan penal system after six months.
The Barcelona and Brazil legend, as well as his brother Roberto de Assis, were first jailed in March for entering Paraguay while using fake passports and ID.
The football legend, who insisted on appearing at the trial in person, has been under house-arrest in Asuncion since April after serving 32 days in prison.
Lawyers of the 40-year-old, who was pictured arriving at a Paraguayan court on Monday, maintain that the brothers did not know the documents were falsified, as they were given to them by a local sponsor upon landing.
One of the lawyers said: “There is no indication that he has any personal characteristics or criminal behaviour that … would put society at risk.”
Both Ronaldinho and Roberto pleaded guilty to entering the country with fake passports and paid a £152,000 fine, but will return to Brazil with conditional freedom.
Roberto, who also acts as his brother’s agent, has agreed to keep a criminal record in Paraguay and must check in with authorities every three months over the next two years, during which time he will not be allowed to leave his home country.
Ronaldinho’s criminal record will be expunged as part of the deal.
Back in April, he said on the legal trouble: “I never imagined that something like this could happen to me.
“It was a big blow. Everything we do is under the contracts that are managed by my brother.
“We were absolutely surprised to learn that the documents we had were not legal.
“Our intention was always to collaborate with the courts to clarify the facts.
“I always have my faith. I always pray for things to go well and hopefully soon all this will come to an end.”
I always have my faith. I always pray for things to go well and hopefully soon all this will come to an end
Ronaldinho
South American media have claimed during his detention that the brothers spent their house arrest in a £300-a-night suites in a luxury hotel.
Despite their supposed quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic, there were reports that Ronaldinho was able to welcome guests to his room and spent the nights dancing and singing karaoke
During his earlier 32-day stint in jail, Ronaldinho was convinced to play in a six-aside futsal tournament at Agrupacion Especializada prison.
Unsurprisingly, he led his team to victory – scoring five times and laying on six assists in the 11-2 triumph.
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But unlike his previous victories, including the Champions League and World Cup, rather than a trophy or medal, his prize was a 16kg pig.
His lawyer Adolfo Marin has argued the defence that Ronaldinho and his brother did not know that the documents they were given in a VIP room upon arrival in Paraguay were faked.
And Marin said of his client: “He’s thick. He didn’t realise he was receiving fake documents”.