Ronaldinho to be released from Paraguayan jail, placed under house arrest
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho will be released from a Paraguayan jail and placed under house arrest, the judge in his case said Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Ronaldinho and his brother and business manager, Roberto Assis, were arrested in Paraguay on March 6 after being accused of possessing falsified Paraguayan passports. They were granted their release after depositing $800,000 each in bail into a local bank account.
"It's a significant bail in cash to guarantee they will not flee," judge Gustavo Amarilla said.
The 40-year-old World Cup winner, who spent his birthday behind bars, and his brother have been permitted to move into a hotel in the Paraguayan capital, Asuncion, until their trial starts.
The inquiry into the altered passports has since led investigators to believe that the incident may involve a money-laundering scheme.
The former Barcelona and Milan star spent 32 days behind bars and was recorded playing football and other sports at the jail.
Ronaldinho playing foot-volleyball in a Paraguayan prison 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xfWajNwfwY
— LADS Podcast (@LADS_Podcast) March 31, 2020
Ronaldinho was considered the best player in the world while with Barcelona and was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005.