F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's mother-in-law has been kidnapped in Sao Paulo with the criminals behind the kidnap reportedly demanding £28 million for her release.
The mother of Ecclestone's wife, Fabiana Flosi, was taken from her Sao Paulo home yesterday. Those involved are reportedly asking for what would be a record ransom in Brazil for a kidnap for the release of Aparecida Schunck, 67.
Schunck lives in the Interlagos area of the city the same area where the Brazilian Grand Prix is held incidentally where the F1 billionaire and his wife with a 47 year gap met seven years ago.
According to Brazilian website the kidnappers want their cash paid in pound sterling and split into four bags of cash, having barely seen £28 never mind £28 million I've no idea how big those bags would have to be.
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In 2002 Sao Paulo reportedly suffered one abduction every 27 hours however a police crackdown led to a decrease in the amount of kidnappings. What is more common is kidnappers driving victims round to cash machines and forcing them to withdraw money.
Back in 2010 Jenson Button was approached at gunpoint when he was driving back from qualifying on the Saturday of the race weekend and Ecclestone shifted blame onto the McLaren driver saying, "They [robbers] look for victims, they look for anyone that looks like a soft touch and not too bright."
He then added his history of never being mugged in the country stating, "I've been coming here for more than 40 years, not just for the race.
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"I have walked around, driven, been out in restaurants in the city and never seen or heard anything threatening. I've run on the beach here early in the morning with a watch on and never been mugged, never seen anyone being mugged.
"I've never, ever had a problem - it's as safe here as anywhere in the world."
We hope for the safe return of his mother-in-law and reccomend when she is home he doesn't open with the line about looking for people who aren't too bright...
(Via BBC)
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Formula One, Brazil