Ecclestone’s Mother In-law kidnapped in Brazil (4th Update)
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| "All my friends know that I wouldn't pay a penny for a mother-in-law," said Ecclestone |
Kidnappers who demanded £28m for the return of F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's mother-in-law threatened to send her head home in a shopping bag if they were not paid.
The gang behind the kidnapping sent the family a video of an unknown woman being decapitated and said they had two days to pay the ransom.
According to The Sunday Times of London, Mr Ecclestone's wife, Fabiana Flosi, rejected advice from professional negotiators and decided to work closely with the Sao Paulo police, who she said were "straight, professional and… my best and only hope."
On the day of the kidnapping, neighbors alerted by screaming took down the number plate of a Ford Fiesta leaving Ms Schunck's house, and alerted the police.
Using CCTV, the police found the car abandoned an hour later and were able to take fingerprints which gave them the identities of two men who were known to the police as petty criminals.
"I listened to the police in Sao Paulo and after talking to friends, realized that they have a good record. I decided to trust them," Ms Flosi told the Sunday Times.
The police told Ms Flosi to remain in London, and "under no circumstances are you to consider paying any money".
Her husband, Mr Ecclestone, is worth an estimated $3.1bn, but said he would not have paid the ransom.
"All my friends know that I wouldn't pay a penny for a mother-in-law," the 85-year-old reportedly jested, adding: "Although I'd say she's a good mother-in-law."
The kidnappers are believed to have devised the plan with a former helicopter-pilot who had worked for Mr Ecclestone and Ms Flosi as recently as 2014, but lost his job after he "nicked a helicopter", according to Mr Ecclestone.
Four days after the abduction, one of the kidnappers was identified in a hospital where he was seeking treatment for a broken leg sustained in a motorcycle crash.
Police then followed him to the address where the gang was holding Ms Schunck, and arrested him. With the injured kidnapper's co-operation, police subsequently stormed the flat and rescued Ms Schunck.
08/02/16 A helicopter pilot who has worked for Bernie Ecclestone has been arrested for being the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of the Formula 1 supremo's mother-in-law.
Brazilian police have revealed that, following the capture of the two kidnappers, a third suspect was detained on Monday.
Jorge Eurico da Silva, a helicopter pilot who worked for Ecclestone and the family of his wife Fabiana, is suspected of being the mastermind behind the kidnap plot.
Sao Paulo's police department uncovered his involvement in the affair after tracing phone calls between him and the two other suspects – Vitor Oliveira Amorim and David Vicente Azevedo.
07/31/16
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| Aparecida Schunck (R) and daughter, Fabiana Flosi (C) at Interlagos |
The anti-kidnapping division (DAS) of the Sao Paulo police rescued Aparecida Schunck Flosi Palmeira, 67, mother-in-law of Bernie Ecclestone.
According to preliminary information, two suspects were arrested. She was being held in Cotia, in the Greater Sao Paulo region. The suspects are being taken to the Police Homicide Division.
The health of Aparecida is reported to be good.
According to the police, others suspected of involvement in the kidnapping, are being sought.
07/26/16 (GMM) Brazilian kidnappers are reportedly demanding $37 million in ransom for the release of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's mother-in-law.
Authoritative sources including the broadcaster Globo, UOL as well as Veja, a Sao Paulo news magazine, claim Aparecida Schunck, the mother of Ecclestone's Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi, was taken from the neighborhood of Interlagos.
Veja reported that the criminals are demanding that the ransom be put into four separate bags in pounds sterling.
Ecclestone, 85, and 38-year-old Flosi live together in London.
07/26/16
Aparecida Schunck, mother of the wife of Bernie Ecclestone, Fabiana Flosi, was kidnapped in Sao Paulo on Friday. Schunck was in the same neighborhood as the Interlagos F1 track. The Criminals are asking for a $36.5 million ransom.
Ecclestone has been married to Fabiana since 2012, after a 25 – year marriage to Slavica. Bernie and Fabiana, 38, met on behalf of the GP of Brazil. Flosi, who is a lawyer, worked in the organization of the Brazilian race.
Fabiana is a lawyer with a specialization in Foreign Trade. The Brazilian worked at Interlagos for 16 years and was part of the accreditation teams, logistics and marketing. Today, she lives in London, England with her ​​husband. Flosi is also part of Comisssao Women's Sport Motor FIA.