Brazil legend, Ronaldinho released from Paraguayan prison and placed under house arrest after serving 32 days

Brazil legend, Ronaldinho has been released from a high-security jail in Paraguay and placed under house arrest after serving 32 days following his fake passport scandal. 

The former Barcelona superstar, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, has been ordered to serve house arrest alongside his brother at the luxury Palmaroga hotel in Asuncion after reportedly paying a £1.3million bond.

Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto de Assis were jailed on March 6 after entering Paraguay with a fake passports

Thepassports found on them were bearing the names of Ronaldinho and Roberto with Paraguayan nationality despite having their Brazilian passports confiscated in 2018 following conviction in an environment offence.

He told local authorities in a hearing that the document was a gift from a Brazilian businessman, Wilmondes Sousa Liria, who was also jailed.

Issuing the ruling, Judge Gustavo Amarilla said: “I decided to put them in house arrest because the investigation is now well advanced, differently from the situation one month ago.”

Ronaldinho’s lawyer, Adolfo Marin said the former player had been ‘stupid’ and criticised the courts for not taking into account his mistake. 

‘The courts have not taken into account the fact that Ronaldinho didn’t know he was committing a crime, because he didn’t understand he had been given false documents. He is stupid.’

If convicted, Ronaldinho, who also played for Paris Saint Germain and AC Milan could spend up to five years in jail.