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Police rescue Milan striker's kidnapped sister

Plainclothes police officers escort Maria de Lourdes Silva de Oliveira, the kidnapped sister of AC Milan striker Ricardo Oliveira, in Sao Paulo, on Monday. Oliveira was found alone on Monday and appeared to be unharmed five months after she was abducted on Oct. 4 last year. PHOTO: AP

Police raided an apartment in a poor district of Sao Paulo and freed the kidnapped sister of AC Milan striker Ricardo Oliveira.

Maria de Lourdes Silva de Oliveira was found alone on Monday and appeared to be unharmed five months after she was abducted on Oct. 4 last year by two hooded gunmen who broke into her home in Sao Paulo, South America's biggest city, police said on Tuesday.

The abductors had overpowered her husband and children before taking her.

"She was in a state of shock," police spokeswoman Luciana Araripe said. "She was taken to the Sao Mateus Hospital for treatment."

Police received an anonymous tip by Internet and sent six officers to the Rodolfo Pirani district on Sao Paulo's east side, Araripe said.

"They heard a woman shouting, and kicked down the door," she said. Inside, they found the 36-year-old Oliveira.

No suspects were located, but police found documents that could lead them to the possible kidnappers, Araripe said.

In Milan, an elated Ricardo Oliveira called club vice president Adriano Galliani and told him that his sister had been freed, the Italian club said on its Web site.

"I'm also very happy," Galliani said. "Just like Ricardo Oliveira was at the moment when he told me his sister was well."

Oliveira said he didn't know if his sister was alive or dead during the months she was kidnapped and thanked AC Milan's fans, his teammates and the club president for their support

"Finally, this good news from Brazil. It is great that she is doing well," he said in a statement on the club's Web site. "Now, I can focus on playing football for this side. I want to do everything that I can to repay everything this club has done for me."

Oliveira said he was still in shock and didn't want to talk at length about the kidnapping.

"This is a joyous moment for everyone, not just me. At the same time, you can't really understand how horrible it is to go through something like this unless you have experienced it first hand," he said on the Web site.

The kidnapping of family members of soccer stars was taboo for many years in this country, where the sport is a national passion. But abductions have increased dramatically in recent years.

Real Madrid midfielder Robinho, whose has been compared to Pele and who led Santos to the national title in 2002 and 2004, transferred to the giant Spanish club two years ago in a move he said could help him protect his family.

His mother was kidnapped for 40 days at the end of 2004.

Robinho reportedly paid a ransom of about US$80,000 for her release.

Last year, the mother of Santos defender Kleber was rescued unharmed nearly two hours after being kidnapped in Sao Paulo, according to the Sao Paulo State Public Safety Department. She was the sixth mother of a soccer player to be kidnapped since November 2004.

Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano, former Sporting Lisbon defender Rogerio, Le Mans striker Grafite and Corinthians defender Marinho also had their mothers kidnapped and released, often after ransom was paid.
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