Dani Alves risks 12 years in prison

Spain Dani Alves' trial has been scheduled for later this year and the Brazilian defender faces up to 12 years in prison for alleged sexual assault at a Barcelona nightclub.

Alves was arrested at Mossos d'Esquadra de Les Corts station, Barcelona on the morning of January 20th on charges of sexually assaulting a young woman on December 30th, 2022. He spent three days and nights in Brians 1 prison, before being transferred to Brians 2 - where most of the prisoners are sex offenders.

The former Barca and PSG defender has had his bail applications rejected three times and will remain in prison until his case is heard. The latest was on June 12, when a Barcelona court rejected his bail application because of the possibility of Alves fleeing Spain and returning to his native Brazil, where citizens are not extradited.

According to El Periodico , Alves' case has been set for trial this fall, between October and November, with the exact date yet to be officially confirmed. If convicted, the Brazilian defender could face a sentence of between six and 12 years, under the Sexual Freedom Guarantee Law, which comes into effect in October 2022.

Dani Alves will appear in court from October to November for rape allegations in Barcelona. Photo: EFE — Dani Alves will appear in court from October to November for rape allegations in Barcelona. Photo: *EFE*

Aside from Alves being a star player for Sevilla and Barca, the case has attracted considerable attention in Spain because sexual assault has remained a prominent political topic since the 2016 gang rape of a teenager during the San Fermin bull running festival, which led to a tightening of sexual violence laws in the country.

In Spain, a rape investigated under the general charge of sexual assault and convicted can result in a prison sentence of between four and 15 years. A conviction for such a crime also opens the way for the victim to be financially compensated for the physical, physiological and moral damage.

According to the victim’s testimony, despite her resistance, Alves still forced her to have sex in the restroom of the VIP area at the Sutton nightclub in Barcelona on the evening of December 30. She was then taken to the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona, where she was tested for biological evidence.

Meanwhile, before his arrest, Alves claimed he had never met his accuser. But he later changed his story several times, including accusing the 23-year-old woman of sexual assault and being dishonest about the incident because he wanted to protect her. He also said he changed his story several times because he wanted to save his marriage to his wife, Joana Sanz, and insisted the relationship was consensual.

El Periodico added that five judges had reviewed the evidence twice and reached the same conclusion. They found several signs that corroborated the victim's testimony and rejected the explanations given by Alves. Police found seven of the victim's fingerprints in the water tank and in the sink. Footprints also showed a series of movements at the scene that matched the two statements of the accuser.

After Alves was arrested for alleged sexual assault, his wife, model Joana Sanz, filed for divorce. The Spanish model also moved out of her home in Barcelona at Alves' request, moved to Madrid and is said to have started a new relationship with a businessman.

Hong Duy

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