Sao Paulo  - A businessman and his father were arrested Tuesday for hiring a policeman dressed as Santa Claus to kill the businessman's illegitimate daughter in 2001, according to media reports.

The two men have been accused of hiring a military police officer to kill the woman, who was apparently laying claim to the family's inheritance.

Dressed as Santa Claus, the hired hit man shot at her three times while she was waiting in her car at a traffic light in southern Sao Paulo.

The woman, who survived, is now a 29-year-old publicist.

The 'Santa Claus' police officer was arrested and sentenced to 13 years and four months in jail in 2006. (dpa)