Dani Alves could be released if he pays a certain amount.
Dani Alves was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for rape in February, but now the Brazilian could potentially be free soon. RAC 1, Onda Cero, and COPE report that Dani Alves can be released from prison if he pays a million euro bail. This is what the Court of Barcelona has agreed to after the hearing that took place this Tuesday. The Brazilian’s lawyer, Ines Guardiola, filed an appeal against the sentence and requested his release on bail until the final sentencing.
Alves has reportedly paid up to $163,000 to the victim, which includes legal fees. Alves reportedly cannot communicate with the victim for nine years and six months or go within 0.6 miles of her. Spanish public prosecutors had been seeking a nine-year prison term for Alves. Alves’ lawyer said she would appeal the decision, stating last month. Ines Guardiola said, “I still believe in Mr Alves’ innocence, and we will defend it to the end.”
Reports suggest that the $1 million bail will release him temporality, but his passport is confiscated, and he must appear in court weekly until his final sentence. La Vanguardia reports that Neymar’s father will pay the bail of one million euros to free Dani Alves.
One of the members of the victim’s prosecution, David Saenz, said: “We are not satisfied with the sentence. We have to consider whether the severity of the sentence is commensurate with the gravity of the facts that have now been proven.” The public prosecutor’s office and the victim can still appeal the bail ruling. The lawyer for Dani Alves’ victim considers it a “scandal” to release the Brazilian on bail.
The Court Statement
The Spanish court released a statement in regard to the Dani Alves case. It reads, “The ruling considers that it has been proven that the victim did not consent and that there are elements of evidence, in addition to the testimony of the complainant, to understand rape occurred.”