Twice FIFA World Footballer of the Year Ronaldinho is hoping to be allowed to return home to Brazil after more than two months in detention in Paraguay.
However, there is also a risk that the 40 year old former World Cup winner and his brother could face up to five years in jail, if convicted.
On March 6th, the pair travelled to Paraguay to help promote a book that he come out under his name, but were arrested at the airport for attempting to enter the country using fake travel documents. This is though Brazilians do not need a visa to enter their South American neighbours, and can use their own passports.
Despite the two men protesting their innocence, saying they were unaware that the documents were false, they were put in a jail on the outskirts of the capital, Asunción. Ronaldinho apparently spent his time whilst he was incarcerated organising football games between the prison inmates.
The pair were released on bail on April 7th after posting a massive surety of US $1.7 million, and have since been held under house arrest in a luxury hotel.
The Paraguayan prosecutor has six months to investigate the case and decide whether it should go to trial, which means that the brothers could yet face an extended stay in the country.
The former AC Milan, Barcelona and PSG star continues to protest his innocence, and he is backed by the president of the Paraguayan players’ union, Rogelio Delgado, who says that there is not a shred of evidence to suggest that the men are guilty.
However, in a new twist, the investigation into the case has been broadened to include possible charges of money laundering, and a further 18 people have been arrested in connection with it.
And, with no credible explanation yet forthcoming as to how Ronaldinho came to be in possession of the fake documents in the first place, there are still more questions than answers surrounding the case.
