Former Brazil footballer Dani Alves is set to be released from prison after making the €1 million ($1.08m) bail payment required while awaiting the outcome of an appeal to his rape conviction. Court officials confirmed on Monday that Alves, who was sentenced to 4½ years in prison on Feb. 22 by Catalonia's top court for sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022, had successfully met the bail conditions.
Alves had been granted bail last Wednesday but remained in prison until Friday as he worked to secure the necessary funds. Reports indicated that he explored various options to raise the €1m, including leveraging his assets and seeking owed money from the Spanish Tax Agency.
According to Spanish news agency EFE, judicial sources revealed that Alves completed the bail payment on Friday. The court officially acknowledged the receipt of the bail amount on Monday and confirmed that Alves would be released within hours.
As part of the release conditions, Alves must surrender his Brazilian and Spanish passports, submit the bail amount, and is restricted from leaving the country. He is also required to maintain a residence near Barcelona and is prohibited from approaching the victim within 1,000 meters or attempting to communicate with her. Additionally, Alves must report to the courthouse weekly.
The decision to grant Alves bail pending the appeal outcome sparked criticism, with the victim's lawyer, Ester García, denouncing it as a 'scandalous' move, alleging that it favored the wealthy.
