Former Brazilian
international Ronaldinho Gaucho was ordered to remain in jail in Paraguay on
Saturday after a judge ruled him a flight risk.
The ex-FC Barcelona forward
was arrested on Friday for attempting to enter Paraguay with a false passport
two days earlier.
He spent Friday night in a
police cell along with his brother and business manager Roberto Assis.
The pair asked to be released
into house arrest but that was rejected by the judge, who also dismissed
Assis’s claims to have a heart problem because he showed no proof.
Judge Clara Ruiz Diaz said
their alleged offence was a “serious one against the interests of the
Paraguayan state”.
“Because the pair posed a
flight risk they must remain in custody,’’ she added.
Under Paraguayan law,
officials now have six months to complete their investigation.
But Ronaldinho’s lawyers, who
called the decision “incredible,” are expected to present an appeal in the
coming days.
“He (Ronaldinho) doesn’t
understand what’s going on,” Tarek Tuma told reporters.
Saturday’s courtroom drama
came after an astonishing four days that began on Wednesday when the duo
attempted to enter Paraguay with doctored passports.
They were detained but a
prosecutor who believed they were tricked into taking the fake documents recommended
they be released after receiving an alternative punishment such as paying a
fine to charity.
A judge, though, rejected
that idea late on Friday and shortly afterwards the pair were arrested.
A police official told local
media the pair had been placed in a cell with one other inmate.
They were given soap,
cushions and repellent to protect against mosquitoes.
Although workers at the
facility took selfies with the famous detainee, officials said the Brazilians
did not receive any preferential treatment.
Paraguayan television showed
the two men arriving in court in handcuffs at around noon local time on
Saturday.
The brothers were invited to
Paraguay by a local casino owner and had arrived on Wednesday to take part in a
football clinic for children and a book launch.
Although he last played
professionally in 2015, Ronaldinho, who also represented Brazilian clubs
Atletico Mineiro, Flamengo and Fluminense, is still hugely popular with global
football fans for his skills and showmanship.
The 39-year-old was named
FIFA world player of the year in 2004 and 2005.
He won the World Cup with
Brazil in 2002 and the Champions League with FC Barcelona in 2006.
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