Mother-in-Law of F1 CEO Released After Being Kidnapped for 10 Days

Topics:  Bernie Ecclestone

VOA News
1 August 2016 (4:21AM)

The mother-in-law of Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, Aparecida Schunck Flosi Palmeira was rescued on Sunday after being kidnapped from her Sao Paulo home 10 days ago.

Brazilian law enforcement agents found Schunck being held 22 miles west of Sao Paulo near the city of Cotia.

According to the anti-kidnapping unit of the city's police department, Schunck was “unharmed. Two men were arrested at the hideout near the city … The operation continues.”

Schunck’s captors asked for 120 million reais or $36.5 million to be delivered in four bags, Brazilian magazine Veja reported.

TV Globo captured the moment Schunck arrived at the police station. The 67-year-old woman appears to be visibly shaken. She hugged her two daughters and other relatives before being taken inside the station.

“I ask that bandits stop kidnapping people in Sao Paulo because they will be arrested,” she said.

She thanked law enforcement authorities and told officers she had not been harmed by the kidnappers, reports say.

Globo also reported that a police officer, who worked in the rescue operation, said authorities found a suspect and the man eventually took officers to the place where Schunck was being held.

Police believe the suspects knew the family was waiting for a furniture delivery, and that is why the family’s housekeeper opened the door, according to local reports.

Schunck is the mother of Fabiana Flosi, 38, who married Ecclestone in 2009 at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Forbes magazine estimates Ecclestone and his family are worth $3.1 billion. Ecclestone is one of the most powerful men in sport.

Kidnapping used to be a common crime in Brazil more than a decade ago, but a crackdown by the special anti-kidnap division helped reduce the number and the crime has become rare.