Brazilian Dani Alves: Acquitted After a Two-and-a-Half-Year Legal Battle
March 29, 2025, 11:54 am

Brazilian Dani Alves: Acquitted After a Two-and-a-Half-Year Legal Battle

داني ألفيش

After nearly two and a half years of suffering through courts and jails and losing almost everything, Brazilian Dani Alves, the former Barcelona star, has been acquitted after being accused by a young woman of rape in a nightclub in 2022.

The Barcelona Court of Appeals annulled the prison sentence of four and a half years that was imposed on Alves for rape, announcing the decision on Friday. The court's statement indicated that the conviction issued in February 2024 was marred by a series of deficiencies, inaccuracies, and contradictions regarding the facts and legal assessments.

As a result, the four judges unanimously decided to accept the appeal filed by Alves's defense team, citing insufficient evidence to prove his guilt. However, the court's decision remains subject to appeal before the Supreme Court.

The court also rejected the appeal made by the public prosecutor's office, which requested an increase in Alves's sentence to nine years in prison.

In a statement regarding the ruling, Alves's attorney, Ines Guardiola, expressed her happiness, saying, "We are very happy. He is innocent, and that has been proven. Justice has spoken."

On the other hand, the victim's lawyer, Esther Garcia, expressed regret over the outcome, explaining that her client felt as if she had returned to those painful moments. She affirmed that they would appeal the decision while considering her client's psychological state.

On February 22, 2024, Alves was sentenced to four and a half years in prison and ordered to pay €150,000 in compensation. He also faced restrictions, including five years of parole and a ban on approaching the victim for nine and a half years. With the annulment of his conviction, all of these measures were lifted.

Alves, who is 41 years old, was released from prison in March 2024 after posting a bail of €1 million, which took him five days to raise. Afterward, he used a popular application to organize matches so he could return to playing football.

Alves, one of the most decorated players in the world, had been sentenced to prison for allegedly raping a young woman in a bathroom at a Barcelona nightclub in the early hours of December 31, 2022. He was arrested in January 2023, and his bail requests were repeatedly denied on the basis that he might flee, as Brazil is not obligated to extradite its citizens.

Throughout his professional career, Alves has represented Brazil in 126 international matches, winning the Copa América twice and claiming a gold medal at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he became the oldest Brazilian player to participate in the finals at age 39.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.