Football star Neymar Jr was reportedly fined over US 3.3 million dollars for violating local environmental rules during renovation work at his mansion in the Brazilian city of Mangaratiba.
According to reports, the Mangaratiba city hall said in a statement that the footballer was issued with four fines totaling 16 million Brazilian reals after he was accused of illegally building an artificial lake at his mansion.
“Among the dozens of infractions that were noticed at the player’s property are the start of an unauthorized construction which requires environmental control; capture of a river course and detouring it without authorization; moving rock and sand; suppressing vegetation without authorization and non-compliance of an embargo,” according to the document.
It’s understood that the latter charge is in relation to Neymar’s decision to swim in the artificial lake despite reportedly being forbidden by local authorities due to the environmental consequences.
“Because of that, the athlete was fined again. The footballer was at the mansion on Friday and entered the lake, ignoring the restriction order made by the (environment) secretariat and local police, which showed up there the day before,” the document said.
On Friday Brazilian media reported that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker hosted a bash on the day to celebrate the completion of the lake on his premises.
Neymar can appeal the decision, which will be handed to the police for possible prosecution.
The company that built the lake, Genesis Ecossistemas, celebrated the 10-day job on its social media on Sunday. It said the lake is 1,000 square meters (10,764 square feet).
According to the Associated Press, a 46-page document states that Neymar received the maximum fine for each of the violations he is accused of.
It was signed by the city’s Attorney-General and also said the player’s father, Neymar da Silva Santos, was verbally abusive towards local authorities last week when they came to the mansion in an attempt to halt construction on the property.
