Judge rules Ronaldinho must remain in Paraguayan jail
CGTN
1583692762000

9eb95559413d497c8f423028524a727e.jpg

(Photo: CGTN)

Former Brazilian international Ronaldinho was ordered to remain in jail in Paraguay on Saturday after a judge ruled him a flight risk.

The ex-Barcelona forward was arrested on Friday for attempting to enter Paraguay with a false passport two days earlier and spent Friday night in a police cell along with his brother and business manager Roberto Assis.

The pair had asked to be released into house arrest, which was rejected by the judge, who also dismissed the claims of Assis to have a heart problem because he showed no proof.

Judge Clara Ruiz Diaz said their alleged offence was a "serious one against the interests of the Paraguayan state."

Because the pair posed a flight risk they must remain in custody, she added.

Under Paraguayan law, officials now have six months to complete their investigation but Ronaldinho's lawyers, who called the decision "incredible," are expected to present an appeal in the coming days.

"He (Ronaldinho) doesn't understand what's going on," Tarek Tuma told reporters.