Dani Alves Released from Spanish Prison After Posting €1 Million Bail

Former Brazil international and football icon Dani Alves (40) regained his freedom on Monday as he left a prison near Barcelona, Spain, following the payment of a one million euro bail set by a court pending his appeal against a rape conviction.

Alves had been incarcerated since January 2023 after being arrested on suspicion of raping a young woman in a VIP bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub on December 31st, 2022.

Exiting the Brians 2 prison in San Esteban Sasroviras near Barcelona, Alves, clad in jeans and a black jacket, maintained a stoic expression as he walked out alongside his legal representative, according to AFP correspondents on-site.

The former Barcelona star, renowned as one of football’s most decorated players, received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence after being convicted last month. However, his legal team promptly filed an appeal seeking his exoneration.

In a surprising turn of events, the court granted Alves conditional release last Wednesday upon the payment of a hefty bail amount. The conditions included surrendering his Spanish and Brazilian passports, remaining in Spain, and appearing in court weekly.

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Despite previous bail requests being denied due to flight risk concerns, given Brazil’s non-extradition policy for its citizens convicted abroad, Alves’ persistence ultimately led to his release pending appeal.

Alves’ legal team is vigorously pursuing his acquittal, a process expected to extend over several months. However, prosecutors are advocating for his sentence to be doubled to nine years, contesting the court’s decision to grant bail.

The victim’s lawyer, Ester Garcia, and prosecutors have appealed against the bail decision, expressing concerns over the perceived injustice of wealth influencing legal outcomes. Garcia emphasized the dangerous precedent set by granting bail, stating that her client felt deeply distressed and frustrated by the developments.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also condemned the bail decision, denouncing it as an injustice and emphasizing that monetary compensation cannot erase the gravity of the crime of rape.

During the trial, the victim recounted a harrowing ordeal of being forcefully coerced into sexual activity by Alves, despite her pleas for him to stop, resulting in significant trauma and fear.

Alves’ defense argued that the encounter was consensual, citing supposed “sexual tension” between the two parties. However, the court emphasized that consent cannot be assumed based on prior interactions.

The trial took place against the backdrop of Spain’s strengthened penal code on rape, requiring explicit consent for sexual acts, a measure aimed at protecting survivors and advancing women’s rights.

Alves, renowned for his illustrious football career, has faced significant repercussions professionally, with his contract terminated by Mexican club Pumas UNAM following his arrest.

As Alves navigates the legal proceedings and the broader societal discourse surrounding his case, the spotlight remains firmly on the intersection of justice, privilege, and accountability in cases of sexual violence.