The high profile case of the jiu-jitsu athlete who says he was kidnapped and robbed by Rio military police just days before the 2016 Olympic Games shook the worldwide grappling community. 

After intimidation and irregularities in how the case was handled, Jason Lee has fled Brazil and is now safe in Toronto, Canada. 

Read: New Zealander Jiu-Jitsu Athlete Kidnapped, Robbed By Brazilian Police

Background on the athlete kidnapped prior to the 2016 Rio Olympics

A blue belt from New Zealand training at GF Team, Lee was one of many jiu-jitsu practitioners who made the trip to Rio de Janeiro to be in the spiritual home of the ‘arte suave’. 

On July 23, Lee made a complaint with the civil police in Rio de Janeiro. He says that while driving back from a jiu-jitsu tournament, he was temporarily kidnapped by two armed officers from the military police and forced to withdraw 2000 Brazilian Reais (U.S. $614) for a fine through no offense had been committed. 

Lee says he was warned by the pair not to report what had happened. 

Intimidation and midnight visits by police

When registering the incident with the civil police, Lee was cautioned by the officers taking his statement. They said even they feared officers from the military police as many of them were known to be involved with organized crime. 

Though his details were registered only with the civil police, Lee received two unannounced visits from the military police – one in the middle of the night – at his home in Ipanema. 

"The second time they arrived, in the middle of the night, they had a document that confirmed our fears that information had been passed from the civil police to the military police,” Lee told Stuff.co.nz. “It basically confirmed our address had been passed on.” 

Leaving Brazil

Fearing for his safety, Lee was forced to flee Brazil. He and his girlfriend, Laura McQuillan, are now safe in Canada. 

For Lee, it marks a sad end to almost a year of training jiu-jitsu and competing in tournaments in Brazil. 

"Before this incident I would have happily said the gym there in Rio was my second home. I'm leaving behind many friends," Lee said. 

What's up Toronto ✌?️?? // #bjj pic.twitter.com/2yD2IQrUrI

— Jason Lee (@jasonleejitsu) July 29, 2016

Catching the corrupt cops

Lee made a note of the license plate of one of the motorcycle cops that had robbed him. Two police officers were later arrested by internal affairs, and Lee will provide further evidence via video link in the ensuing investigation. 

"I don't hold these actions of these two as in any way representative of Brazil as a country, of Brazil a culture, or Brazilians as a people," Lee said.

"I really did love my time in that country."