Dani Alves pays bail for release from jail in Spain while waiting appeal of rape conviction

Brazilian soccer star Dani Alves paid 1 million euros ($1.2 million) in bail to be released from prison while appealing a rape conviction, a Spanish court said Monday. Alves, who also handed over his passports, was expected to be released later Monday. He will be prohibited from leaving Spain and from approaching or communicating with the victim.

Alves last month was found guilty of raping a woman in a nightclub in December 2022 and sentenced to four years, six months in prison. He denied wrongdoing during the three-day trial.

The 40-year-old Alves had spent the last 14 months in the Brians II prison located 45 minutes from Barcelona, since he was detained preventively by authorities investigating the rape accusation against him.

Alves’ release coincided with a protest outside Brians II by prison officers who have been demanding better conditions in jails in northeastern Catalonia following the killing of a prison cook by an inmate at another jail.

Alves will be required to come to the court every Friday, and any other time when ordered to do so. He also will be required to provide a phone number so he can be contacted and located. The Brazilian player is not allowed to be within 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) of the victim’s residence, work place or any other location where she usually goes.

Last week, a court granted him the possibility to leave prison on bail after all of his other previous requests had been denied because he was deemed a flight risk. The judges were split 2-1 on last week’s decision, with those in favor of granting Alves bail saying they believed the flight risk had lowered.

Spain’s state prosecutors’ office in Barcelona on Friday asked a court to reconsider that decision, saying they believed the risk of Alves fleeing increased after he was found guilty. They wanted Alves to remain jailed while awaiting his appeal.

Prosecutors also reminded the court that Brazil does not extradite its citizens when they are sentenced in other countries.

No date has been set for the appeals trial at a higher court in Barcelona. After that, 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.

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