Retired professional soccer star Ronaldinho Gaúcho has testified at a congressional listening to in Brazil, denying his involvement in an alleged $61 million crypto pyramid scheme that bore his title.
On Aug. 31 Ronaldinho appeared earlier than a parliamentary committee inquiry the place he refuted any position within the scheme known as “18kRonaldinho” that promised 2% every day returns on crypto. A lawsuit was filed in opposition to the agency in search of $61 million in damages.
Ronaldinho claimed he was by no means partnered with th firm and it used his title and picture with out his authorization, arguing he was additionally a sufferer of the purported scheme.
Through the listening to, photographs had been proven of 18kRonaldinho’s advertising and marketing that depicted Ronaldinho.
He stated the photographs had been taken as a part of a contract he signed in July 2019 with a subsidiary of the corporate that sells watches however that contract was terminated later that 12 months in October and was by no means executed.
The inquiry’s president Aureo Ribeiro requested Ronaldinho if he meant to reimburse those that invested within the firm to which Ronaldinho stated he would stay silent.
He additionally didn’t reply when requested in regards to the $61 million lawsuit.
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Ronaldinho had failed to seem earlier than two earlier hearings associated to the inquiry, most lately on Aug. 24 by which he blamed climate circumstances for not with the ability to attend.
The newest Aug. 31 listening to was his final probability to seem earlier than Congress — if he didn’t he confronted attainable fines or arrest by which authorities would’ve forcibly taken him to seem on the listening to.
The inquiry was launched in June to analyze purported crypto pyramid schemes and is being carried out by Brazil’s decrease home, the Chamber of Deputies.
It’s investigating a complete of 11 firms alleged by the nation’s Securities and Change Fee to have falsely promised excessive returns utilizing crypto.
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