Retired Brizilian football player Ronaldinho leaves Asuncion’s Prosecution after declaring his irregular entry to the country, in Asuncion, Paraguay, on 5 March 2020. Ronaldinho and his brother have been detained in Paraguay after allegedly using fake passports to enter the South American country. Photo:
Norberto Duarte / AFP
Ronaldinho released after five-month detention in Paraguay
Ronaldinho has finally been released by Paraguayan authorities after being locked up for five months due to a forged passport
Retired Brizilian football player Ronaldinho leaves Asuncion’s Prosecution after declaring his irregular entry to the country, in Asuncion, Paraguay, on 5 March 2020. Ronaldinho and his brother have been detained in Paraguay after allegedly using fake passports to enter the South American country. Photo:
Norberto Duarte / AFP
Former Brazil star Ronaldinho has been released from prison in Paraguay after spending five months in detention over a forged passport.
Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto de Assis Moreira were released on Monday by a judge after having spent the past four months under house arrest at a hotel in the Paraguayan capital. The pair had already spent a month in a maximum security prison in Paraguay before being placed under house arrest.
Both were arrested for possession and usage of false Paraguayan passports with which they entered the country to conduct business activities.
Ronaldinho released from prison in Paraguay
A judge in Asuncion agreed to a “conditional suspension” of charges, effectively clearing the player of any responsibility for the crime but ordering him to pay $90 000 in costs, which would be given to charitable organizations.
“There is no indication that Ronaldinho has any personal characteristics or criminal behavior which would put society at risk,” a prosecutor said.
“Ronaldinho is free to travel to whatever country in the world he wants but he must inform us if he changes his permanent residence.”
‘It caught me by surprise’
Ronaldinho has since opened up about the whole ordeal claiming he had no idea that the travel documents required to enter Paraguay were forged.
“We were totally surprised to learn that the documents were not legal. Since then our intention has been to collaborate with the justice system to clarify the facts.” Ronaldinho told ABC.
“From that moment until today, we have explained everything and facilitated everything that has been requested of us. We cooperated towards all officials as best as we could.
“It was a hard blow, I never imagined that I would go through such a situation. All my life I have sought to reach the highest professional level and bring joy to people with my football.”
Ronaldinho is now expected to meet up with his family before returning to his home in Barcelona, Spain.
