EX-RANGERS star Claudio Caniggia has been prosecuted for “aggravated sexual abuse” following accusations made by his ex-wife.
Former partner, Mariana Nannis, accused the Argentina striker of “beating and threatening to kill her” in a hotel room in 2018.
Caniggia, 56, was prosecuted on Monday without pretrial detention, Argentine newspaper Clarín reports.
Authorities established that Caniggia “should refrain from maintaining any kind of contact with the complainant, Mariana Belén Solange Nannis Silles, be it in person, telephone, text messages, social networks, emails or WhatsApp, instant messengers or an intermediary person.”
He will also have to “inform and prove, more than five business days in advance, when he will leave the national territory of the Argentine Republic, expressly indicating the destination to which he will go and the time that he will remain present in foreign territory.”
Authorities have also issued an embargo on the footballer’s assets for £15,400 – or five million Argentine pesos.
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It was established that this amount must be deposited in the country’s public bank, Banco Ciudad, “at the disposal of this judicial headquarters within the term of three days of notification of this order.”
Caniggia was married to Mariana for 31 years, and they have three children together.
The couple split in 2019 after he got together with model Sofia Bonelli – who he wed that year.
Mariana filed her complaint to the prosecutor’s office of Dr Carlos Velarde in February 2020.
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After months of investigation, it was determined that the alleged crime happened in the early hours of May 5, 2018, after the couple left a wedding party in Buenos Aires and headed to Residencias del Hotel Faena, also in the Argentine capital.
According to the file, Caniggia tried to have sexual relations with his then wife, but when she refused, he threatened to kill her, Clarin reported.
He then “failed to punch her in the face as she covered herself with her hands, but then hit her in the arms and hands,” according to Mariana’s account, who claimed that she was sexually abused after the assault.
The ex-wife’s complaint also mentioned that Caniggia’s alleged violence “affected her and the couple’s children, as well as some aspects of family privacy.”
In March last year, the World Cup star appeared in court after being accused of rape.
However, Judge Pablo Ormaechea ruled that there was not enough evidence to make a decision, and had asked the prosecution to continue investigating.
The player is now no longer being accused of rape, but instead, he is being prosecuted for aggravated sexual abuse.
In Argentine law, both aggravated sexual abuse and rape are serious offences, but they are defined and treated differently.
Aggravated sexual abuse refers to any sexual act without consent, involving violence, threats, or abuse of authority.
It can also include situations where the victim is unable to give consent due to factors such as age or disability.
On the other hand, rape, known as “abuso sexual con acceso carnal” in Argentina, specifically involves non-consensual sexual intercourse or penetration.
It typically carries more severe penalties compared to aggravated sexual abuse.
Caniggia helped the Rangers win an SPL title, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups after a 2001 move from Dundee.
He scored seven goals in 21 Dundee appearances following his 2000 arrival from Atalanta.
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The striker also played for River Plate, Hellas Verona, Roma, Benfica, Boca Juniors and Qatar SC.
Last week, the ex-footballer attended the opening of Legends: The Home of Football museum, in Madrid, Spain.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
