F1 chief Ecclestone's kidnapped mother-in-law rescued unharmed

The kidnapped mother-in-law of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has been rescued unharmed after more than a month in captivity, the Brazilian police have confirmed.

67-year-old Aparecida Schunck Flosi Palmeira had been missing since the kidnapper posing as delivery men abducted her from home in the Jardin Santa Helena area of southern Sao Paulo on June 22.

Confirming the news of her rescue, the Brazil authorities said that Palmeira had been liberated unharmed while adding that they had arrested two suspects in the case, Sport24 reported.

Meanwhile, a demand for a 168-million-euro ransom, which was made to the family through e-mail, had also not been paid.

Kidnappings were common in Brazil in the late 1990s and the early 2000s, with the relatives of footballers particularly becoming their primary targets.

Brazilian international star Robinho' mother was kidnapped in 2004 and was held for 41 days in the outskirts of Sao Paulo.