The inquiry revolves around the enterprise “18k Ronaldinho,” affiliated with the renowned Brazilian soccer icon. This company purportedly pledged clients daily profits exceeding 2% through investments in the realm of cryptocurrencies.
Brazilian football luminary Ronaldinho Gaúcho is facing potential detainment by legal authorities for questioning in connection with a cryptocurrency fraud investigation within Brazil. As reported by local media outlets, Ronaldinho’s absence from a summons before the nation’s legislative body pertains to an ongoing inquiry into a pyramid scheme purportedly linked to one of his corporate ventures.
The former star of Paris Saint-Germain, F.C. Barcelona, and AC Milan has now disregarded a subpoena for the second time, specifically on August 24th, thus neglecting to provide testimony during a congressional hearing. This absence was attributed to unfavorable weather conditions. Congressman Aureo Ribeiro has indicated that Ronaldinho is scheduled for an additional opportunity to testify on August 31st. In the event of his failure to appear, legal authorities could potentially compel his attendance before the committee.
Under Brazil’s legal framework, individuals summoned as witnesses to testify before Congress bear a legal obligation to fulfill this duty. Failure to adhere to a subpoena may result in fines and the possibility of coercive measures, including police intervention, to secure their appearance before the legislative body.
The focus of the investigation centers around the enterprise “18kRonaldinho,” associated with the renowned Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho. This company allegedly offered investors daily profits exceeding 2% through investments in cryptocurrencies. A lawsuit seeking restitution of more than $61 million has been lodged against the entity, as it reportedly failed to deliver the promised returns. This legal action is now integrated into a wider inquiry into fraudulent activities within the crypto landscape of the country.
Ronaldinho’s legal team contends that he occupied the role of a mere “ambassador” for the company, positioning him as an additional victim of the alleged fraudulent scheme. Their argument is grounded in the assertion that his image and name were unlawfully exploited to deceive potential investors without proper authorization. It’s worth noting that Ronaldinho’s crypto venture also encompasses a non-fungible token (NFT) collection, introduced through a collaboration with INFLUXO in 2021.
In a separate incident in 2020, Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto de Assis were detained in Paraguay for entering the country using forged passports. Their incarceration lasted for over 170 days. It’s of significance that Assis, too, is implicated in the ongoing investigation concerning crypto-related matters.
