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Olympic athlete kidnapped in Rio

26th July, 2016
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A Kiwi athlete and his journalist girlfriend are holed up in their apartment in Rio after military police at the centre of an alleged abduction showed up at their door.

Jiu-jitsu champion Jason Lee says members of the the Policia Militar pulled him into a car on Sunday and forced him to withdraw money from two ATMs on Sunday.

A report was made to the Policia Civil (civil police), who Lee said on Tuesday assured him his personal information could not be accessed by the military police.

But on Monday afternoon the pair found the Policia Militar at their door.

“Doorman just called to say Policia Militar – the police who kidnapped my boyfriend – are downstairs. They should not have our address,” Lee’s girlfriend Laura McQuillan tweeted.

“We have contacted the NZ Ambassador and are awaiting further advice.”

The civil police were also contacted and arrived about 90 minutes later.

A New Zealand Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed Lee contacted the embassy in Brasilia on Tuesday morning.

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“The embassy has contacted other authorities on his behalf,” they said.

Lee’s account has been described by Australian Olympic team boss Kitty Chiller as “very disturbing”.

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