Former Brazil star Ronaldinho was released Monday by
a Paraguayan judge after five months in detention over a forged passport.
Judge Gustavo Amarilla also released Ronaldinho’s brother Roberto de Assis
Moreira, who also had been held for a month in jail and another four months
under house arrest in a hotel in Paraguay’s capital, Asuncion, for the same
charge.
The 40-year-old former World Cup winner “is free to travel to whatever
country in the world he wants but he must inform us if he changes his permanent
residence” for a period of one year, the judge said.
“He has no restrictions except for the fulfilment of reparations for damage
to society.”
Dressed in jeans, a black beret and black shirt, Ronaldinho accepted the
terms of his release, which include payment of $90,000 damages. His brother,
who is also Ronaldinho’s business manager, must pay $110,000.
The pair are also expected to appear before a judge in Brazil every three
months — Ronaldinho for a year and his brother for two.
Amarilla accepted a recommendation by four prosecutors to avoid the need
for an oral trial.
“There is no indication that he has any personal characteristics or
criminal behaviour that … would put society at risk,” the prosecutor said prior
to Monday’s trial.
Prosecutors did not believe Ronaldinho took part in the plan to
manufacture the fake Paraguayan passports but believed de Assis Moreira was
aware that the passports were false.
The brothers arrived in Paraguay on March 4 without any issues, with
Ronaldinho, the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner, due to take part in an event in
support of disadvantaged children.
However, two days later, the pair were taken into police custody when
investigators raided their hotel following the discovery they had fake
documents.
After being held in a police station in Asuncion, where Ronaldinho
celebrated his 40th birthday on March 21, the two men had been under house
arrest for more than four months in a luxury hotel in the capital, on bail of
$1.6 million.
The investigation has since expanded into a case of possible money
laundering.
Some 18 people have already been arrested in connection with the case, most
of them immigration officials or police officers.
Ronaldinho, considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, was
crucial in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup win.
He played for European giants such as Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris
Saint-Germain during a hugely successful 10-year stint in Europe.
He won the Champions League and two La Liga titles with Braca and Serie A
with Milan.
After returning home to Brazil he won the Copa Libertadores — South
America’s equivalent of the Champions League — with Atletico Mineiro.
AFP
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