A Brazilian court has deferred Neymar’s $3 million sentence from last year for developing a lake at his residence on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro without an environmental license.
Judge Adriana Ramos de Mello’s verdict, dated Monday and acquired by AFP on Wednesday, referenced a report by the state environmental regulator INEA, which stated that the project did not require special environmental licenses.
The judge ruled that continuing to demand payment against the Al Hilal SFC player would be unreasonable and illegal due to the high fines.
The Mangaratiba town council imposed four fines totaling 16 million reais ($3.3 million) for “environmental violations in the construction of an artificial lake at the player’s mansion” in the tourist town located 130 kilometers (80 miles) outside of Rio.
Among the “dozens of infractions” discovered, the authorities highlighted “carrying out work subject to environmental control without authorization,” “capturing and diversion of river water without authorization,” and “removal of land and suppression of vegetation without authorization.”
However, the judge agreed with the INEA’s findings, stating in her decision that their examination “confirmed that no (environmental) license is required for such activities,” and thus the alleged breaches “were not present.”
Neymar purchased the Mangaratiba home in 2016. According to Brazilian media, it includes a heliport, a spa, and a gym.