Brazilian ex-footballer Dani Alves, who was convicted of rape in Spain in February, has posted a whooping £860,000 bail and has been granted release from jail while awaiting his appeal, as confirmed by a court on Monday paving the way for his return home.
“We hereby inform you that the deposit of Daniel Alves’ bail has been registered in the accounts of the 21st section of the Barcelona Court,” said a statement.
A Spanish court on February 22 found the ex-Barcelona star, Alves guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in the early hours of December 31st 2022.
It took him until Monday to present the funds, meaning he remained in jail while his entourage tried to raise the money.
Alves had been in jail since he was arrested in January 2023. He made several attempts before his conviction to get bail, but they were turned down partly on the basis that he was a flight risk since Brazil does not extradite citizens sentenced in other countries.
No date has been set for the appeals trial at a higher court in Barcelona. After that, the case could go to the Spanish Supreme Court in Madrid.
Alves’ lawyers are seeking his acquittal while prosecutors want his prison sentence increased to nine years. The victim’s lawyer wants him jailed for 12 years.
