The New Zealand jiu-jitsu athlete kidnapped in Rio by military police has fled Brazil and is now safe in Toronto.

Jason Lee, 27, and his journalist partner, Laura McQuillan, have quit their home of one year after a harrowing week in the Olympic city.

Police corruption, violence and intimidation has forced them out on the eve of the Games that McQuillan was supposed to be covering for NZ’s Stuff website.

Lee was kidnapped at the weekend, driven at gunpoint to two ATMs and forced to withdraw bribe money.

When he reported the crime to civil police, they passed on his personal details, and armed military police officers went to his home, unannounced.

The NZ Embassy was called, and two police arrested, but it appears that hasn’t been enough to deter the intimidation.

https://twitter.com/mcquillanatorz/status/758779624742461441

Lee told Stuff the kidnapping was terrifying, and the pair had not left their apartment since then until they fled to Canada.