Spanish Court Grants Bail to Dani Alves Amid Rape Conviction Appeal
A Spanish court has decided to release Brazilian footballer Dani Alves if he pays a bail of €1 million and hands over his passports while awaiting the appeal of his conviction for raping a woman in Barcelona. The court issued the ruling on Wednesday.
Background
- Alves was found guilty of raping a woman in a nightclub in 2022 and was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.
- He has been behind bars since being arrested in January 2023.
- Prior requests for bail were denied due to concerns of him being a flight risk.
Conditions for Release
To be released, Alves must:
- Pay a bail of €1 million.
- Hand over his Brazilian and Spanish passports.
- Be prohibited from leaving the country.
- Stay at least 1,000 meters away from the victim and refrain from any communication with her.
The decision to grant bail came after a hearing where Alves expressed his intention to stay in the country and cooperate with the legal process.
Legal Proceedings
Alves’ lawyer and the state prosecutor have appealed the conviction. The defense seeks acquittal, while the prosecutor aims to increase the prison sentence to nine years.
A new trial date at a higher court in Barcelona is pending, with a potential further appeal to the Supreme Court in Madrid.
Additional Penalties
As part of his conviction, Alves was ordered to pay €150,000 in compensation to the victim. He is also banned from approaching her home or workplace and from communicating with her for nine years.
Alves, a decorated footballer with numerous titles, was playing for Mexican club Pumas before his arrest, which led to the termination of his contract.
Throughout his career, Alves achieved success with top clubs like Barcelona and contributed to Brazil’s victories in international competitions.
He is currently held at Brians 2 prison, located approximately 45 minutes northwest of Barcelona.