Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves, accused of rape, must remain in custody in Spain. The public prosecutor’s office rejected an application by the 39-year-old’s lawyers for release on bail, the media reported, citing judicial circles. There is a risk of flight, it said.
The responsible court in Barcelona said on request that the information was correct. A 23-year-old woman reported Alves. She accuses him of raping her in a Barcelona nightclub on December 30.
On January 20, the former star of FC Barcelona was arrested during a visit to the Catalan capital and taken into custody. Alves had initially denied any sexual contact. His lawyer later stated that the sexual acts had taken place with the woman’s consent. Before his arrest, Alves had played for Mexican club UNAM Pumas.
It was the second request by criminal defense attorney Cristóbal Martell to have Alves released from prison. However, the court and the public prosecutor’s office already saw the danger that the soccer professional could escape to his home country of Brazil, where he would be safe from extradition. Alves could be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison in Spain for rape.