ASUNCION (Reuters) – Former World Cup winner Ronaldinho Gaucho came close to finishing his ordeal in Paraguay on Friday when prosecutors said they would oppose a “conditional suspension” of the case that would allow him to return to Brazil.
The two-time world player of the year arrested on March 6 along with his brother and advertising director Roberto Assis after attempting to enter Paraguay with forged Paraguayan passports.
They were jailed for 32 days before being sentenced on April 7 after posting a $1.6 million bond.
Ronaldinho, the former Barcelona player Paris St-Germain and Flamengo who turned 40 while in prison, has been under space arrest for four months in a Paraguayan hotel.
According to a document noted through Reuters on Friday, and also reported in Paraguayan and Brazilian media, prosecutors in the case said they had not discovered “any evidence that Ronaldo de Assis Moreira was directly involved in obtaining the abnormal documents.”
They have Ronaldinho released after paying a $90,000 fine and identifying a constant flat in Brazil. You must also inform the Brazilian government every 3 months.
Officials asked for a two-year suspended sentence and a $110,000 fine for his brother Roberto, agreed to let him leave Paraguay.
They said if Ronaldinho didn’t know it was an adulterated passport, Roberto knew it.
Both men testified that they were innocent and their lawyer has argued that their detention is “arbitrary, abusive and illegal.”
The ruling is expected to issue a hearing date next week.
Reporting through Daniela Desantis in Asunción, written through Andrew Downie in London; Edited through Ken Ferris
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