Ecclestone's pilot arrested over mother-in-law kidnapping

The saga takes a new twist as Brazilian police nab another suspect.

SINGAPORE - SEPTEMBER 18: F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone walks through the paddock with his wife Fabiana Flosi during previews ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 18, 2014 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
SINGAPORE - SEPTEMBER 18: F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone walks through the paddock with his wife Fabiana Flosi during previews ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 18, 2014 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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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.

Ecclestone’s mother-in-law Aparecida Schunck was held for several days with a ransom of £28 million being demanded for her safe release.

According to local media reports, police were eventually led to the hideout after discovering fingerprints and CCTV footage of the kidnappers exchanging cars as they made their getaway.

Local authorities said that no ransom was paid and no shots were fired during the rescue operation.

This article originally appeared on Motorsport.com.

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