See what is known about Marcelinho’s kidnapping – 12/18/2023 – Sports

Marcelinho Carioca’s former football player was released this Monday (18) from captivity where he was held since the early hours of Sunday (17), after leaving a concert by singer Thiaguinho at the Neo Química Arena, in Itaquera, in the east zone of the capital of São Paulo.

The former athlete said that after the show he went to a friend’s house, on Rua Salesópolis, in the city of Itaquaquecetuba, in Greater São Paulo, where the two were approached by three men. After being shot and hooded, he was taken into captivity in his own car.

The police began investigating his disappearance when a military police officer found the Mercedes abandoned on Jacareí Street, also in Itaquaquecetuba. The officer noticed a car of that model in the region and decided to look for the license plate.

In Marcelinho Carioca’s car, the police found a toy gun.

When calling the company that owned the car, Marcelinho’s lawyer answered the call and spoke about his disappearance. According to the Military Police, the lawyer found the call strange and asked the police officer to make a video call.

Marcelinho stated on Monday afternoon (18) that he was coerced by criminals to record a video in which he says he was kidnapped after going out with a married woman. In the video, which circulated through messaging apps, Marcelinho said that he was at a show in Itaquera, enjoying samba and that he left with his wife. The former player appeared with a black eye in the recording.

The perpetrator of the kidnapping would have been the woman’s husband. In the video, the version was endorsed by the woman who allegedly went out with Marcelinho. According to the police, however, this version was created by the kidnappers to mislead the investigation.

“I was forced to do it, it’s a lie,” said the former player. “It’s not easy to have a gun pointed at your head all the time. What do you do with a gun to your head?” he added.

“She [mulher que aparece no vídeo] she is my friend. I was sports secretary [de Itaquaquecetuba], I’ve known her for three years. I didn’t go out with her, I have nothing to do with her. She’s my friend, she’s my friend,” she explained.

The captivity where he was found is in a community on Rua Ferraz de Vasconcelos, also in Itaquaquecetuba. Five people were arrested, according to delegate Fabio Nelson, from the Anti-Kidnapping Division. The detainees were three women and two men. The police also relied on an anonymous tip to find the location.

The kidnappers who took Marcelinho would have used the former player’s phone number to impersonate him and ask for money from family members and people close to the Corinthians idol, according to information from the PM.

Initially, still on Sunday (17), before the Corinthians idol was reported missing, a person not identified by the PM would have made a payment worth R$60,000, supposedly at Marcelinho’s request.

On Monday morning (18), there was a new request for money, this time for R$30,000. When the request was denied, the kidnappers would have started demanding payment from people close to the former player. According to the PM, they even asked for R$200,000 for his release.

According to General Delegate Arthur Dian, the criminals took around R$40,000 in bank transactions via Pix. The Anti-Kidnapping Division does not disclose values ​​in kidnapping cases.

Nelson said he believes it was an occasional kidnapping. According to him, the former player’s car caught the attention of criminals, but they didn’t know who the owner was.

Investigations continue by the 1st Anti-Kidnapping Police Station. The prisoners will be investigated for extortion through kidnapping.

FALCÃO RAISES SUSPICION ABOUT MESSAGE EXCHANGE

On social media, Marcelinho’s last post was published on Saturday (16), in a video in which he appears alongside singer Thiaguinho, backstage at the concert the musician performed at the Corinthians stadium.

In the publication, the two exchange words of affection for each other. It is not possible to specify the exact time of posting. After the news of the former player’s disappearance, fans have been posting messages of concern about their idol in the comments of the video.

This Monday, former futsal player Falcão raised suspicions about an alleged exchange of messages with Marcelinho on Instagram. In a print shown by Falcão, when asking the Corinthians idol if he was okay, Falcão was surprised by his friend’s short answer, which simply said “Thanks to God”.

“In the message in question, yesterday, at 4:30 pm, I’m sure it wasn’t him who responded! He always throws parties, sends audio, video! May everything be resolved, idol! May this information help with something! May he return to us as soon as possible”, Falcão wrote on social media during the investigations.

CORINTHIANS IDOL VENTURED INTO POLITICS

Born on December 31, 1971 in Rio de Janeiro, Marcelinho Carioca made his professional debut for the Flamengo team in the late 1980s, where he came to play replacing his idol Zico.

In the 1990s, he was traded to Corinthians, becoming one of the team’s main players. He received the nickname Pé de Anjo for his precise free kick goals, and is the team’s fifth highest scorer, with 266 goals in 433 games.

Among the main titles won by the former player in the São Paulo team are the FIFA Club World Cup in 2000, the Brazilian Championship twice (1998 and 1999) and the São Paulo Championship four times (1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001).

The midfielder also played for Santos and Vasco among the great teams in Brazil. Abroad, he played for Valencia, in Spain, and Gamba Osaka, in Japan.

After hanging up his boots, Marcelinho Carioca studied journalism at Faculdades Integradas Rio Branco, where he graduated in 2017. He even worked as a commentator on Bandeirantes.

The former player also ventured into a political career. He tried to be elected federal deputy in 2010 for the PSB, state deputy for the PT in 2014, and councilor for the PRB in 2016, but was not elected on any occasion. He assumed the position of federal deputy for about a month in 2015, filling the vacancy left by Márcio França, elected vice-governor of São Paulo.

Marcelinho Carioca served for around two years as Secretary of Sports and Leisure of Itaquaquecetuba. He took office in December 2020, appointed by the mayor of the municipality, delegate Eduardo Boigues (PP). He remained in the post until January of this year, when he was dismissed.