Dani Alves faces years in jail after his bid for bail over ‘nightclub sex attack’ is rejected
DANI Alves is facing spending years behind bars after his appeal for bail was rejected.
The Brazil star, 39, is being held in a jail near Barcelona, a month after his arrest over an alleged sex assault at the city’s Sutton venue in the early hours of December 31.
A Spanish court denied his appeal to be freed on bail while the investigation continues, ruling he was a flight risk and must remain in prison.
Court officials have confirmed Alves is under investigation on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman, but have not confirmed the exact nature of the allegations against him.
Investigations of this kind can take months and even years in some cases to complete, while those under formal investigation can be held in prison without charge for up to four years in Spain, although the normal limit is two years.
The former Barcelona defender was arrested last month after a 23-year-old woman identified him as her attacker to police.
His arrest came as a second blow for his heartbroken wife Joana Sanz just days after her mum died from cancer,
Alves initially denied any contact with his accuser, but in a court hearing, he changed his story and claimed they had consensual sex.
He denies wrongdoing and remains in custody.
A judge ordered him to be jailed without bail after analysing the initial probe by authorities and hearing testimony from Alves, the alleged victim and witnesses.
“Daniel Alves remains as innocent as he was before this ruling,” his defense team said in a statement.
“His desire to leave Spain and elude the process did not, and does not, exist.”
Alves lawyers filed the appeal saying the Brazilian agreed to turn in his passport and wear a tracking device if he was freed.
Alves would also report to the court and to authorities as often as required, including daily, and would not go within 500 meters (yards) of the accuser or her home or workplace.
But the court ruled that those measures would not be enough to keep the player from potentially trying to escape considering he faces several years in prison if found guilty.
It also said there was considerable evidence that a crime might have been committed, and that Alves’ wealth could make it easier for him to try to flee regardless of the amount of bail.
“Nothing would stop Mr. Alves from leaving Spain by air, sea or even land without documentation and reaching his country of origin, where he could stay knowing that he would not be delivered to Spain despite international arrest warrants or extradition orders,” the court said.
CCTV footage published by Spanish media was said to show him and the alleged victim in a VIP area and then going to the toilet for 47 seconds.
The woman said that after the alleged attack she was too scared to leave the toilet for several minutes.
The football ace reportedly made his debut for a prison football team earlier this month.