Reports on Monday suggested that the sister of Zenit St Petersburg forward, the ‘Hulk,’ had been kidnapped in her native Brazil. Local police confirmed that Angelica Aparecida Vieira had been missing since 2pm local time on Monday, when she was last seen outside of her work.
Angelica, 22, is one of six sisters that the Brazilian superstar has. Her boss Helio da Silva is reported to have witnessed her being thrust into a stranger’s car.
The Campina Grande police officer Kalina Suerde apparently called Angelica’s mobile phone, only to hear a man impersonating her husband talking back to her. Hulk’s family members had supposedly told authorities that no contact or demands for ransom had been made.
They had also told the Police to stay away from the investigation, indicating that it was likely that contact had been made and some kind of an arrangement made.
Potential kidnappers would not have needed much more incentive than the huge media interest created by the Hulk’s £39.5m summer transfer to Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg. It was a deal that made him one of the best ever paid Brazilian footballers. Perhaps one of the only reasons a criminal would have been put off interfering with one of Hulk’s family is the fact that the Brazilian is built like a brick outhouse.
Hulk received worldwide support on networking site Twitter, including one from fellow Brazilian and injured Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, who tweeted, “I want to offer my friend HULK support. Much strength friend, I am praying that this will be resolved as soon as possible. Hugs.”
Police had advised Hulk, who suffered a thigh injury last weekend, to remain in Russiauntil the safety of his sister was known. But before the Hulk could make a decision Angelica was returned, during Tuesday afternoon, to her home in Campina Grande, North Brazil.
The authorities have since said, ”She told us that she was abducted but wasn’t hurt, that’s what is important. We are continuing our investigation to understand exactly what happened. If it was indeed a kidnapping, as it seems it was, we have to work to find those responsible for it.”
Hulk now joins a list including fellow Brazilian’s Romario, Fabiano, Robinho, Grafite and Ricardo Oliveira, who have all had members of their family kidnapped.
image: © *dirk
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