Alves to be freed on €1m bail after rape conviction

A Spanish court has ruled that ex-Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves can be conditionally released from jail after serving about a quarter of his sentence for rape.

Alves, who was sentenced to four and a half years in prison last month, will be released on a one million euro (€1m) bail.

The conditions for his release include turning over both his Brazilian and Spanish passports so he cannot leave Spain.

He must also appear before the court on a weekly basis, and adhere to a restraining order preventing him from approaching the victim.

Read Also: Alves found guilty of nightclub rape, bags prison sentence

40-year-old Alves had been held in pre-trial detention since January 2023, having been involved in the rape in December 2022.

The ruling came a day after Alves’ lawyer requested his release on the grounds that he had already served a quarter of his sentence in pre-trial detention following his arrest.

The decision, which was not unanimous due to a dissenting vote from one of the judges, can still be appealed.

The victim’s lawyer, Ester Garcia, said: “To me, it’s a scandal that they let a person who they know can get a million euros in no time walk free.”

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