Man held over offer to kill woman accusing basketball star of rape

A SWISS national who police say approached US basketball star Kobe Bryant with a chilling offer to kill the young Colorado woman who accused him of rape for $3 million, was arrested on Thursday after he was turned in by the basketball star’s security team.

Patrick Graber, who was living in the Los Angeles area on an expired visa and claimed to be a member of the Russian mafia, was taken into custody after accepting a bag full of money from undercover officers and pledging to kill the 19-year-old woman within a week, police said.

Graber also told the officers he would provide proof of the murder, possibly with a photograph of the woman's body, Los Angeles Sheriff's Lt Jim Taylor said.

Taylor said Graber, a physically imposing 31-year-old bodybuilding coach with a shaved head who called himself Yuri, sent a letter to Bryant saying he could solve the five-time all-star's 'problem'.

Bryant's security staff intercepted the letter and contacted authorities, Taylor said.

"He was soliciting them to commit a murder, through the mail," Taylor said, adding that police believed Graber was serious in his threats and intended to carry them out. "He could make her not come to court, he could make her disappear, he could make her have a drug overdose. He was specific in that manner," Taylor said, adding that the bag undercover officers gave Graber contained mostly fake money with legal currency on top.

It was not immediately clear if authorities believed Graber was involved with organised crime but said he appeared to have personal information about Bryant's accuser a hotel concierge and college student and her family.

Taylor did not say how Graber obtained that information, but the woman, who has not been identified in the mainstream media, has been named on a nationally syndicated talk-radio show and on the internet. Several web sites have also posted her picture, address, phone number and other personal details.

"This individual, by his actions, statements and who he was involved with, made us believe his threat was credible," Taylor said.

Attorneys for Bryant's accuser were not immediately available for comment on the arrest. Authorities said they had told the woman, her family, and other parties involved in the Bryant rape case about the threat.

The woman, who lives in Colorado, told police Bryant raped her on the night of June 30 while staying at the four-star resort where she worked. He is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing in the case on October 9 that will determine if he should stand trial on a charge of felony sexual assault the equivalent of rape under Colorado law.

Bryant has denied he raped the woman and said his encounter with her was consensual sex.

In August, a 22-year-old Iowa man was arrested and indicted on federal charges for threatening to kill the woman in a message he left on her home telephone.

John William Roche, who has pleaded not guilty, faces a possible five years in prison if convicted.