Bernie Ecclestone, former owner of Formula 1, was arrested at an airport in Brazil for having a gun in his suitcase

Former Formula 1 boss, British Bernie Ecclestone, He was arrested Wednesday night at Viracopos International Airport, in São Paulo, for carrying his suitcase a gun without documentation while boarding a private plane to Switzerland.

Ecclestone, 91, was placed on “temporary release” after paying bail 6,060 reais -about $ 1,250-and Brazilian media reported that, soon after, he boarded a private plane to Switzerland.

The São Paulo state Secretary of Public Security said in a statement that Ecclestone was “arrested after federal police found a pistol in his luggage on Wednesday around 9:30 pm in the X-ray area of ​​Viracopos airport in Campinas. ” .

He also detailed that Ecclestone “he is said to be the owner of the illegal firearmbut said he did not know it was in his personal baggage. ” Police added, the former executive did not want lawyers to be involved in the matter.

A police report written at the airport and obtained by The Associated Press shows that Ecclestone told police he bought the gun from an unknown F1 mechanic about five years ago. He explained that the weapon was hidden on a farm in a rural area of ​​Sao Paulo state.

Police described the weapon as an unloaded Seecamp 0.32 LW pistol, and confiscated. Having guns is allowed in Brazil if the owners show that they need them for their own safety.

The former Formula One executive, who stepped down in 2017, have family in Brazil and travel often in that country. He is married to Brazilian lawyer Fabiana Ecclestone, vice president of the FIA ​​and member of the World Motor Sport Council.

Bernie Ecclestone’s controversial defense of Putin

One of Ecclestone’s last appearances in the media has also been controversial. In March of this year, he defended the actions of Vladimir Putin, with whom he had a good relationship, and assured that he was a “noble” man.

“As a man, I see him as very direct and dignified. Vladimir did exactly what he said he would do without any discussion,” the former F1 owner said in statements on British station “Times Radio”, which justifies Putin’s decision that mobilize your country’s troops in the cities of Ukraine.

And when journalists present at the interview reminded him that the president of Russia was exactly the opposite, because he made sure he had no intention of invading Ukraine, the Briton replied: “But sometimes things change, don’t they? “

The Briton had a great friendship with Putin, with whom he talked about the arrival of Formula 1 in Russia. In 2014, Sochi hosted a premier class Grand Prix for the first time and became a fixed date on the calendar, until 2022.

DD