The Brazilian midfielder Kaka and his relationship with the leaders of the Apostolic Renascer Church, Estevam Hernandes Filho and Sonia Haddad Moraes Hernandes is being investigated. The news of the investigation was made public on Saturday.

 

The attorney general of the 1st precinct of Vara Criminal in Sao Paulo, Marcelo Batlouni Mendroni, claimed that he made an official request to the administration of the player's current team, Milan, on September 14. Since then, Mendroni has not received a response from the team or the player himself.

 

The personal relationship between Kaka and the leaders of the church, also husband and wife, is being targeted by the police. The main reason for the investigation and suspicion is due to the tithing that the player pays to the church, which is estimated to be close to US$ 1 million.

 

According to Mendroni, a few of the questions he would like to ask the player are: "what is your level of friendship with the accused? Do the accused frequent your house in Brazil or Italy? Do you frequent the house of the accused in Brazil or the United States? Since the 31st of July of 2006 when the couple was first accused of money laundering, how many times has the couple been to your home? Are you aware of the fact that the couple has been condemned to prison? During their time of parole from prison, did the couple spend time at your house in Brazil or Italy?"

 

Estevam and Sonia Hernandes were caught by the police in the United States for the crimes of smuggling money and for conspiracy to launder money. Since their sentence in August of 2007, the couple was freed on a conditional parole.

 

Estevam was liberated from his parole on the 29th of December while Sonia completed her sentence of house arrest. Sonia is due to appear in front of the Brazilian courts where she is expected to be sentenced to an additional 140 days of house arrest.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2008)