Former FC Barcelona and Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho, alongside his brother, have been sent to pre-trial prison over allegations of using fake passports to enter Paraguay.
Ronaldinho’s lawyers argued for an alternative punishment after the pair were given false documents after arriving in Asuncion on Wednesday. Two days later and they were taken into custody.
The brothers claim they were tricked into accepting the documents and say they are innocent of any wrongdoing. Their argument is they felt the passports handed to them was a courtesy gesture.
The judge denied their bail so Ronaldinho, alongside his brother Roberto Assis, will be forced to remain in jail until a trial takes place. This was mainly due to the judge believing the pair could flee the country and as such avoid having to attend the trial.
In 2019, Ronaldinho had his Brazilian and Spanish passports confiscated over unpaid taxes and fines over illegal building on a nature reserve in Brazil.
The 39-year-old was in Paraguay to promote a book and also to be the face of a campaign for underprivileged children.
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