Brazil star Hulk's sister feared kidnapped

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – NOVEMBER 2: Hulk of FC Zenit St. Petersburg (L) passes the ball as Inal Getigezhev of FC Rostov defends during the Russian Football League Championship match between FC Zenit St. Petersburg and FC Rostov at the Petrovsky Stadium on November 2, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Rio de Janeiro, Nov 6 – The younger sister of Brazil international striker Hulk is feared to have been kidnapped after going missing in the north eastern Brazilian city of Campina Grande, local police said.

Angelica Aparecida Vieira de Sousa was forced out of her car outside a restaurant around 2 p.m. Monday and driven away in another vehicle, reports Xinhua.

The 22-year-old is understood to have been accompanied by the restaurant’s manager, Helio Pereira da Silva, who had momentarily left Vieira waiting alone.

Pereira, who told the police he believed Vieira had been abducted, suffered shock and was taken to hospital for observation before being released, police said.

A police spokesperson said it was too early to confirm that Vieira had been kidnapped despite reports in Brazil’s media.

Hulk, 26, currently plays with Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg after being signed from Porto in September for $63 million.

Hulk had been informed of the news and was in constant contact with the family by telephone.

High-profile kidnappings for ransom are not uncommon in Brazil. Earlier this year, Chile international midfielder Jorge Valdivia and his wife Daniela were abducted and robbed in Sao Paulo before being released three hours later.