A NEW ZEALAND Jiu-Jitsu competitor in Rio says he was kidnapped yesterday by men in police uniform and forced to withdraw cash from teller machines before being released.

Jason Lee tweeted an account of the incident early this morning:

“What did you guys get up to yesterday? I got kidnapped. Go Olympics! #Rio2016.”

What did you guys get up to yesterday? I got kidnapped. Go Olympics!#Rio2016 — Jason Lee (@jasonleejitsu) July 24, 2016

Lee says he has been living in Rio for about 10 months.

Lee later detailed that he had been held by people wearing police uniforms — “not by some random people with guns”.

“I was threatened with arrest if I did not get in their private car and accompany them to two ATMs to withdraw a large sum of money for a bribe. I’m not sure what’s more depressing, the fact this stuff is happening to foreigners so close to the Olympic Games or the fact that Brazilians have to live in a society that enables this absolute bullshit on a daily basis. This place is well and truly f***ked in every sense of the word imaginable.”

The story was quickly picked up and distributed by his journalist girlfriend, Laura McQuillan, who is also in Brazil.

Boyfriend was accosted by Policia Militar cops who drove him to two ATMs and forced him to withdraw cash #roadtorio https://t.co/0iUwh6Zjb5 — Laura McQuillan (@mcquillanatorz) July 24, 2016

Rio a city of humiliation apparently 👎🏻 #rio2016 pic.twitter.com/Xd1nT4ayya — Jason Lee (@jasonleejitsu) July 5, 2016

Originally published as Kiwi sportsman ‘kidnapped’ by Rio ‘police’