Former Brazilian national football team player Ronaldinho can avoid criminal charges for using a fake passport, CNA reports.
The footballer, his brother and an agent were arrested on March 7 after trying to enter Paraguay with fake passports. In April, the measure of restraint was changed to house arrest after posting a bail of $ 1.6 million. They are in the Asuncien hotel.
The Paraguayan prosecutor’s office said they did not find any evidence that Ronaldinho was personally involved in the illegal receipt of documents, unlike his brother. Therefore, it is proposed to allow the 40-year-old Brazilian to return to his homeland after paying a $ 90 thousand fine. He will also have to be observed in the Brazilian judiciary every three months.
For his brother, prosecutors asked for a two-year suspended sentence and a $ 110,000 fine. If the court upholds the arguments of the prosecutor’s office, it will also be able to return to Brazil to serve his sentence.
It is noted that the court will set a date for sentencing next week.
In November 2018, Ronaldinho in Brazil was deprived of his passport for non-payment of taxes. The footballer owns 19 real estate objects, for which he owes at least 1.8 million reais.
In 2015, Ronaldinho and his brother were fined € 2 million for the illegal construction of a warehouse and a fishing platform in Porto Allegri, Brazil. They were found guilty of causing environmental damage. The former football player did not pay the fine.
Ronaldinho is the world champion in football and has the Golden Ball. The International Football Federation (FIFA) has twice recognized him as the best football player in the world. The athlete has played for a number of Brazilian clubs, as well as PSG, Barcelona and Milan. Retired from football in January 2018.