Dani Alves: Brazilian soccer star jailed for sexual assault

CNN
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Brazilian soccer star Dani AlvesThe media office of the Supreme Court of Justice of Catalonia said in a statement that a Spanish judge returned him to prison on Friday under investigation for sexual assault.

The statement reads: “The investigating judge No. 15 of Barcelona received today, as a detainee, the footballer Dani Alves, accused by a woman of alleged sexual assault, in events that allegedly took place in a Barcelona discotheque in the last month of December.” .

“The investigative judge has sentenced him to temporary imprisonment without bail, in the case of the ongoing sexual assault crime,” the statement reads. She added that the judge allowed the possibility of Alves obtaining communications while he was in prison.

The woman who filed the complaint against Alves testified Friday before an examining judge, as did an eyewitness, according to the court’s press office. These were separate, closed appearances before the judge and were also separate from Elvis’ trial.

The court’s press office said the woman’s lawyer had filed a private case against Alves, which is permitted under Spanish law, in addition to the prosecutor’s case. Separate testimony was heard on Friday of the woman and Elvis her lawyer, Elvis’ defense attorney, the prosecutor and the investigative judge, the press office added.

However, the investigating judge did not announce the content of the woman’s testimony, according to the court’s press office.

The same investigative judge announced last week that an investigation was underway against Alves over the allegations, the press office said at the time.

The police media office told CNN that Alves, 39, was arrested earlier on Friday by the Catalan regional police. The police press office said he spoke to officers at a police station in Barcelona and was then taken in a police car to courthouses across the city.

He remained in police custody and, hours later, was brought before an investigative judge.

Alves said in a recorded video of him sent to a Spanish reporter that aired on Spanish TV show “Y Ahora Sonsoles” two weeks ago, that he denied the accusations against him. Reuters also reported that Alves denies any wrongdoing.

Alves is one of the most decorated footballers of his generation, having won domestic titles in Spain, Italy and France. He also won three UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona.

The Mexican club Universidad Nacional (UNAM) announced the immediate cancellation of Alves’ contract on Friday.

“The Club Universidad Nacional has taken the decision to terminate the employment contract of the player Daniel Alves, with good cause, as of this day,” club president Leopoldo Silva announced in a press conference.

“With this decision, the club renews its commitment not to tolerate the actions of any member of our institution, whoever they may be, that attempt against the spirit and values ​​of the university,” Silva said.

Silva concluded, “We cannot allow the behavior of one person to harm our business philosophy, which has set an example throughout history in the training and development of our country’s athletes and young women.”