Robinho hands over his passport and will stay in Brazil until the STJ decides

The player Robinho handed over his passport to the Justice, in a sign that he will not leave the country until the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) decides whether or not he should be arrested.

José Eduardo Alckmin, Robinho’s lawyer, informed that he delivered the former player’s travel document this Wednesday afternoon (29) in Brasília. Minister Francisco Falcão had determined the measure last week, but the lawyer said that Robinho already wanted to hand over his passport voluntarily.

Delivery of the passport is a guarantee that Robinho will not leave the country until the STJ decides whether or not he should be arrested. The measure is common in cases where there is a risk that the defendant will leave Brazil and stay away from the effects of the law.

Now, the case rapporteur will analyze the arguments for and against the arrest of the former player. There is still no date for the trial and until then Robinho is free to move around the country. Sentenced to nine years in prison for rape in Italy, he lives on the coast of São Paulo.

This Wednesday, earlier, the STJ allowed Anacrim (National Association of Criminal Advocacy) to be part of the process that could lead Robinho to prison. The association defends the freedom of the former player.

Anacrim asked, and the STJ accepted it as “amicus curiae” in the action. An “amicus curiae” (friend of the court) can participate in the proceedings, present documents and argue orally at the trial.

According to the STJ, Anacrim was accepted to guarantee “parity of arms” in the action. Earlier, Minister Falcão had already allowed the participation of the Brazilian Women’s Union, an entity in favor of Robinho’s arrest. The possibility of a Brazilian serving a sentence given by another country opposes jurists.