Asuncion (AFP)
Paraguayan justice on Friday rejected the appeal filed by the lawyers of the ex-Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho, imprisoned for a week in Paraguay where he is under investigation for the use of false passport.
"There is no change in the risk of absconding and obstruction of the investigation, which justifies the preventive measure to keep the Assis Moreira brothers in detention", according to the decision of the three judges called to rule.
Justice had until Monday to render its decision on the appeal presented by the lawyers of the former player of FC Barcelona.
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, known as Ronaldinho, was arrested on March 6 with his brother Roberto. Both are accused of entering Paraguay in possession of false passports and have been placed in pre-trial detention.
The 2005 Ballon d'Or and his brother had arrived in Asuncion two days earlier to promote a book and participate in various charitable events.
The two men showed their passports to the immigration police, who did not immediately find any discrepancies. Paraguayan police then searched the hotel where the two men were staying.
Investigators discovered false Paraguayan passports made in Asuncion a few months ago, according to Interior Minister Euclides Acevedo.
According to judge Gustavo Amarilla, in charge of the file, the investigation seeks to "know the real reasons for their presence" in Paraguay. "There could be other things, such as a criminal association or money laundering," he said.
Ronaldinho had been deprived of his passport by the Brazilian justice at the end of 2018, following his condemnation to a fine of 2.5 million dollars (approximately 2.25 million euros) for having built a pier without authorization on the edge of 'a lake in a protected area in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (south).
He finally recovered it in 2019 after an agreement with the justice system, in return for a payment of 6 million reais (1.1 million euros).
Fifteen people, including entrepreneurs, police and officials, are in the crosshairs of the Paraguayan justice in the context of this case.
© 2020 AFP