After more than a month behind bars, Ronaldinho arrived on April 7 at the Palmagora hotel, recently renovated and located in a 1900 era building in the historic center of Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay.
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira and his brother Roberto occupy two Premium suites there, which they each pay 350 dollars (around 340 francs) per night, according to the hotel manager, Emilio Yegros.
Both were arrested on March 6 in Asuncion, accused of entering Paraguay in possession of false passports. They had arrived two days earlier in the Paraguayan capital to promote a book and participate in charitable operations.
The two men have since been in pre-trial detention at a police station, where the 2005 Ballon d’Or celebrated its 40th birthday on March 21. Lawyers for the former Brazilian champion offered a bail of $ 1.6 million for the two brothers, which was accepted by the Paraguayan courts.
In this case, they face up to five years in prison.
“Always smiling”
Due to the pandemic of new coronavirus, which has already infected at least 161 people in Paraguay and killed 8, the former star of PSG and FC Barcelona is not allowed to receive visits and the hotel n has no other customers.
“We strictly apply the health protocol. The day they arrived, we washed all their clothes, ”Emilio Yegros told AFP.
Since then, the 2002 world champion has been killing time between the gymnasium and the corridors of this 6000 square meter establishment.
“Yesterday we brought him a regulation ball. We have provided him with a lounge, approximately 30 by 15 meters, for playing ball, ”continues the manager.
“He seems to be a good person. He always has a smile, like his brother. He has a completely different face from the day he arrived, when he was visibly tense and stressed, ”he adds.
The presence of this media client has changed the routine of employees, who now take turns answering the phone: journalists from around the world are seeking an interview with “Ronnie”.
“Leave Ronaldinho alone”
“On Good Friday, I had lunch with them, as well as with the Brazilian consul. Ronaldinho does not lose his sense of humor and makes jokes between two conversations, “said the manager, who dismisses rumors that Barça intervened so that the establishment could receive the Moreira seated brothers.
“It is a pure coincidence” that the owners of the hotel are Catalan, assures Mr. Yegros.
For Ronaldinho’s Brazilian lawyer, Sergio Queiroz, the Brazilian’s detention “is illegal, abusive”. Ronaldinho and his brother “did not know the documents were illegal,” he said.
“Leave Ronaldinho alone,” also stepped up for the former Argentinian player Jorge Valdano. “The only place he was subversive is on the ground,” he recently told a Madrid newspaper. “To be a delinquent is one thing, to be silly is another,” he added.
“They knew,” says AFP, the prosecutor in charge of the case, Alicia Sapriza. The investigation seeks in particular to determine if the ex-player was used or if he was aware of any illegal activities related to his coming to Paraguay.
“In their phones, which we analyzed, we found conversations of Brother Roberto where these documents are mentioned,” said the magistrate, who said that “Ronaldinho could not have known. He cannot plead good faith ”.
Even if the investigation could last up to six months, it is very likely that the two brothers will be released on parole as soon as administrative activity, currently paralyzed by the pandemic, can resume, according to judicial sources consulted by the AFP. (AFP / nxp)
Created: 04.16.2020, 10h23
–
