BRAZIL LEGEND QUIZZED Football star Ronaldinho probed in Paraguay after police raid on hotel after ‘being found with fake passports’
BRAZILIAN football legend Ronaldinho is being probed in Paraguay over “fake passports” after cops swooped on his on hotel.
Posted Thursday, March 05, 2020 by Thesun.co.uk
The former Barcelona ace has been ordered to appear before prosecutors later today after allegedly entering the country with falsified documents.
Ronaldinho, left, being quizzed by cops in his hotel over the suspect passports Credit: EPA
Cops swooped on the ex-Barcelona star's hotel Credit: EPA
Ronaldinho arrives in Paraguay Credit: AFP or licensors
An unidentified man is arrested in Paraguay Credit: AFP or licensors
Ronaldinho has been banned from leaving his luxury hotel on the outskirts of the Paraguayan capital Asuncion until his quiz.
Police went to his hotel yesterday - the Yacht and Paraguayan Club Hotel Resort - after being informed about the alleged dodgy papers.
The Paraguayan passport in his full name – Ronaldo de Assis Moreira – was issued on January 7 this year and states he is Brazilian but describes him as a naturalised Paraguayan.
Police have also confiscated an allegedly adultered Paraguayan ID card.
Ronaldinho’s brother Roberto has also been ordered to appear before prosecutors at 9am local time after an allegedly falsified Paraguayan passport in his name was found in his room.
A Brazilian businessman, named locally as 45-year-old Wilmondes Sousa Liria and identified as the man suspected of facilitating the documents, is the only one of the three who has so far been arrested.
Paraguay’s State Prosecution Service published photos of Ronaldinho in his presidential suite surrounded by cops.
It said in a statement: “Prosecutors investigate Brazilian player Ronaldinho’s documents and passports.
"Prosecution officials Federico Delfino, Alicia Sapriza and Marcelo Pecci led an investigation and carried out a joint operation with the National Police.
"It was carried out in a presidential suite at the Yacht and Paraguayan Club Hotel Resort in the city of Lambare.
"Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, alias ‘Ronaldinho’ and his brother Roberto de Assis Moreira, were staying at that resort.
"According to the information received, they had Paraguayan passports when they entered the country on Wednesday afternoon.
"These documents are being analysed so their authenticity can be established. Two passports, a national ID document and mobile phones have been confiscated.
"Ronaldinho and his brother said they had been invited to Paraguay by Nelson Belotti, owner of the Il Palazzo casino, and had been contacted by the representative of a foundation called Fraternidad Angelical about participating in some charity events.
The two brothers remain free to move around their suite at the resort but will remain there under custody.”
Last September it was reported Ronaldinho and his brother agreed to pay a fine of more than £1million to recover their Brazilian passports.
A judge had seized their passports after they were convicted of building an illegal fishing platform on a lake in a conservation area.
They were given until October to pay the fine. It was not immediately clear today if it had been paid.
- Tag:
- Barcelona
- Ronaldinho
Photos
More»Glam footballer Madelene Wright gives fans a Christmas treat
Saturday December 21 2024Meet Arsenal super fan Arabella Mia
Saturday December 21 2024[PICTURE SPECIAL] FC Bayern Munich 5 - 1 RB Leipzig
Saturday December 21 2024
Your Say