Five people arrested over alleged Posh Spice kidnap plot charged with theft

Monday, November 4th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) _ Five men arrested on suspicion of plotting to kidnap Spice Girl Victoria Beckham were charged Monday with theft and conspiring to rob Sotheby's auction house, police said.

Scotland Yard said inquiries were continuing into the alleged plan to kidnap Victoria, known in the band as Posh Spice and the wife of England soccer captain David Beckham. They reportedly planned to seek a ransom of about $7.7 million.

Nine people were arrested after a Sunday newspaper said undercover reporters had discovered the kidnap plot.

Kosovo-born Azem Krifsha, 30, 24-year-old Joseph Rivas, born in London, and 31-year-old Rusu Sorin, a Romanian, were charged with theft and handling a jeweled turban worth $93,000 belonging to Sotheby's.

Two other Romanian men _ Adrian Razvan Pasareanu, 28, and Alin Turcu, 18 _ were charged with conspiracy to rob an employee of Sotheby's.

All the men live in London. Police said they would be released on bail after a court appearance later Monday.

Seven men and two women were arrested in police raids late Saturday and early Sunday, after the News of the World newspaper tipped police.

The tabloid said its reporters had infiltrated a gang of Romanian and Albanian kidnappers who planned to ambush Victoria in front of her home north of London and use a chemical spray to sedate her and her sons Brooklyn and Romeo if necessary.

One of the woman arrested over the weekend has been released without charge while two men and a woman have been released on bail on unrelated charges.

David Beckham, who plays for England's national soccer team and Manchester United, is one of Britain's biggest sports stars and the Beckhams are among the country's most popular celebrities.

The newspaper quoted Victoria Beckham as saying she was stunned by the allegations.

``It's clear these people were serious and that, of course, has scared the life out of me. ... I'm in absolute and total shock.''

Beckham said Sunday he was reviewing his family's security.

``The first role of a father and husband is to keep his family safe,'' the soccer star said in a statement.