A Brazilian court has suspended a fine of about three million dollars imposed on the world football star Neymar for building an artificial lake on his estate in Rio de Janeiro without permission. The ruling, dated Monday and obtained by AFP on Wednesday, comes from Judge Adriana Ramos de Mello and cites a report from state environmental authority INEA, which says the project did not actually require any environmental permits.
“As the fines requested amount to millions of dollars, continuing to demand ‘payment’ will inflict significant, disproportionate and even illegal damage” to the forward of the Saudi club Al-Hilal, the magistrate stated.
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The Mangaratiba city council sentenced the Brazilian player to pay four fines, for a total of 16 million Brazilian reals (3.3 million dollars), for “environmental violations” related to “the construction of an artificial lake in the player’s mansion.” “about 130 kilometers from Rio.
Among the “dozens of infractions” indicated, the authorities cited “the execution of works subject to environmental control without authorization”, the collection and diversion of water from rivers without authorization, and “the removal of land and the removal of vegetation without authorization.” .
They do not see any permission necessary
The judge, however, agreed with the INEA’s conclusions, saying in her decision that an inspection “confirmed that no (environmental) permit is necessary for such activities” and therefore that the alleged offenses against Neymar “were not (characterized) )”.
The Brazilian soccer player bought a mansion in Mangaratiba, a tourist area on the outskirts of Rio, in 2016, on a 10,000-square-meter plot of land that includes a helipad, a spa and even a gym.
