Former Brazil international footballer Dani Alves, convicted of rape in Spain in February, has posted his bail of one million euros, granting him release from jail while awaiting his appeal, as confirmed by a court statement on Monday.
The court announcement stated, “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.” BBC reported that a Spanish court had found the ex-Barcelona star guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub on February 22.
Alves, aged 40, a highly decorated footballer, had been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail for the rape incident, which occurred in the early hours of December 31, 2022, in a VIP bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub. He is to be released from custody pending his appeal after paying the required bail amount of one million euros ($1.08 million), as stated by a Barcelona court last Wednesday.
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TV crews gathered outside Brians 2 prison, northwest of Barcelona, where Alves has been held, anticipating his imminent release, following the completion of bail formalities on Monday.
Alves had been incarcerated since his arrest in January 2023. Despite prior unsuccessful attempts to obtain bail, he succeeded this time after his entourage managed to raise the required funds.
The appeal process may extend over several months. Both public prosecutors and the victim’s lawyer, Ester Garcia, have contested the decision to grant bail to Alves.
Garcia expressed her concern, stating, “This sends the message that there is justice for the rich, and even if there is a conviction if you pay bail there are no criminal consequences.” She added that her client felt “outraged, despondent, and frustrated.”
The decision to grant bail also faced criticism from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who emphasized that money cannot absolve the offense of rape. He stressed the importance of consent in sexual acts, emphasizing that rape is a crime.
During the trial, the victim testified that Alves had forcibly engaged in sexual activity with her despite her pleas to stop, causing her immense distress and fear, according to prosecutors.
Alves’ legal team argued that there was mutual attraction between Alves and the victim, but the court concluded that this did not imply consent to the subsequent events.
Spain’s leftist government passed a law in 2022 known as the “only yes means yes” law, aiming to strengthen the penal code against rape by requiring explicit consent for sexual acts.
Alves, renowned as one of the greatest defenders in football history, has won a total of 42 trophies. He enjoyed his peak years at Barcelona from 2008 to 2016, clinching 23 trophies during that period. At the time of his arrest, he was playing for Mexican club Pumas UNAM, but he was subsequently dismissed after his detention.
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