F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone’s mother-in-law has reportedly been kidnapped in Brazil where her captors have demanded a £27.8m ransom.
Aparecida Schunck, the mother of Ecclestone’s wife, Fabiana Flosi, was said to have been snatched from her home in Interlagos, San Paolo, on Friday night according to Brazilian news magazine Veja.
Schunck’s captors have demanded 120 million reais (£27.8m), divided into four bags, for the 67-year-old’s return. They are said to have requested the fee be paid in pounds sterling.
Ecclestone, 85, is worth an estimated £2.4bn and married the 39-year-old Brazilian in 2012 following his divorce from Croatian model Slavica Radic.
Police are yet to comment on the case, as are the Ecclestone family.
Ecclestone and Flosi live in London, but Schunck has continued to live in Sao Paolo.
In a Facebook post on Mother’s Day, Flosi wrote: “Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, and especially mine.
“There are no words to thank so much love and dedication. Thank you Mum, I love you,” the Mirror reported.
The incident comes as Brazil prepares to host the Olympic Games next month and follows a police crackdown on kidnapping gangs amid concerns it may deter wealthy sports fans from attending the games.