Souza arrested over missing girlfriend
Reuters - Thursday 08 July 2010, 00:08
RIO DE JANEIRO - The goalkeeper of
Brazil's most popular football team on Wednesday surrendered to
police probing the disappearance and possible murder of his
ex-girlfriend, in a case that transfixed the football-crazed
country.
Flamengo keeper Bruno Souza and a friend were ordered
arrested while public prosecutors investigate the disappearance
of 25-year-old model Eliza Samudio last month.
Police cars arrived at Bruno's plush house near a Rio beach
on Wednesday, but they did not find the goalkeeper or his
friend Luiz Henrique Ferrera Romao, known as "Spaghetti."
The two later went to a police station. Neither was
charged.
Samudio, 25, filed a police complaint against Bruno last
October, saying that she had been kidnapped, beaten up and
forced to take medicine that would induce an abortion. She
later gave birth to a baby she said was Bruno's.
The public prosecution service for Rio de Janeiro state
said on its website it had applied kidnapping and assault
charges relating to October's alleged events to be brought
against Bruno and Ramao.
Bruno, who like many Brazilian footballers is known by one
name, has denied involvement in Samudio's disappearance in
comments to media. Bruno's wife was arrested in the player's
home city of Belo Horizonte, about 440 km (270 miles) north of
Rio.
Rio de Janeiro's Flamengo is the league champion and by far
Brazil's most popular club.
A police source told Reuters that Bruno's arrest was
ordered after a 17-year-old cousin of the goalkeeper testified
that he and Romao had kidnapped Samudio and driven her to
Bruno's house in Belo Horizonte.
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