Olympic medalist accused of planning to kidnap Romanian millionaire's daughter

The 1968 Olympic champion, who already faces charges of procuration and trade with prostitutes, "in essence has admitted" to being involved in a plan to kidnap the 18-year-old daughter of a Romanian businessman to demand a Ђ3 million (US$3.6 million) ransom payment, the Austria Press Agency cited Schwarz' attorney, Herbert Eichenseder, as saying.

Schwarz, who had sold his house to the businessman, told police that English criminals approached him with the idea of kidnapping the young woman, APA reported. Police heard about the plans before they could be carried out, Eichenseder said.

Schwarz initially denied all charges, but acknowledged his involvement after he was confronted with evidence, the report said.

The 58-year-old Schwarz is already on trial on charges that he brought two Lithuanian women to Austria in 2004 for prostitution work and pocketed part of their pay. He also is charged with getting another foreign woman a job at a bordello and demanding a cut of her earnings. That trial is set to continue in December.

Schwarz was convicted on similar charges in 2002, when Schwarz admitted to having brought five women from Russia and Lithuania to Austria to work as prostitutes, but insisted he had done it only to help the women. A.M.