Dani Alves, a Brazilian, was freed from prison on Monday, according to a Spanish court, after posting a bond of one million euros ($1.2 million) to contest a rape conviction.
In addition, the former Barcelona star turned in his passports, since the prosecution had argued against posting bail due to the possibility of him fleeing.
Alves was sentenced to four years and six months in jail after it was determined last month that he had raped a woman in a nightclub in December 2022.
For the three days of the trial, he denied any misconduct.
The 40-year-old Alves had been arrested preventively by authorities looking into the rape accusation against him, and he had spent the previous 14 months in the Brians II jail, which is 45 minutes outside Barcelona.
Alves is not permitted to leave Spain and is not allowed to get close to the victim or get in touch with her.
After Alves was released, prison guards staged a protest outside Brians II. They were calling for improved conditions in jails in northeastern Catalonia in response to the prison cook’s death at the hands of an inmate at another facility.
Alves must appear in court on Fridays and at other times as directed by the court.
In order to be reached and located, he must also supply a phone number.
The victim’s home, place of employment, or any other regular destination is one kilometer (0,6 miles) away from the Brazilian player.
A former football player, Luiz Alves, was granted bail by a court after his previous requests were denied due to his flight risk. However, Spain’s state prosecutors’ office in Barcelona requested a reconsideration of the decision, arguing that the risk of Alves fleeing increased after his conviction.
They want Alves to remain jailed while awaiting his appeal. The appeals trial at a higher court in Barcelona has not been set, and 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.
(AP)
