Three men have been charged after they were arrested in Germany this year over an alleged blackmail plot that targeted the family of Formula One icon Michael Schumacher.
German prosecutors said the chief suspect, a 53-year-old man from the western city of Wuppertal, had threatened to release private images and videos of Schumacher.
These allegedly included images of the racing legend, both before and after the accident in 2013, when he was left with life-altering injuries after falling on a rock while skiing off-piste in the French Alps.
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Despite wearing a helmet on the day of the accident – something doctors say saved his life – the German suffered a serious head injury and was airlifted to hospital.
His family have since kept details of his condition largely private.
In regards to the chief suspect, he faces charges of attempted blackmail with a maximum jail sentence of up to 15 years, although that punishment could be reduced as the threat was not followed through, according to prosecutors.
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Prosecutors also say the chief suspect got in touch with an employee of the Schumacher family on several occasions times in June this year to demand money.
He allegedly threatened to leak the images if the money, believed to be €15 million, was not paid.
The 30-year-old son of the previously mentioned Wuppertal man has also been charged with being an accomplice to blackmail.
As reported by The Guardian, the images allegedly came from another 53-year-old, who was from the western town of Wülfrath, and worked as a security guard for the Schumacher family until 2021.
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He could face a “considerable” jail term on charges of being an accomplice to attempted blackmail and breach of privacy, according to the report, after being suspected of selling the material for a “five-figure” sum.
Since his fall in 2013, Schumacher has lived an intensely private life but earlier this week, it was reported that the former racing driver has been seen in public for the first time since his tragic skiing accident.
According to The Mirror, the 55-year-old was reportedly seen at the wedding of his daughter Gina-Maria and new husband Iain Bethke last Saturday.
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The 27-year-old married her partner at the family's villa in Majorca, with only select guests allowed to attend out of respect for Schumacher.
While not a lot is known, Schumacher reportedly requires round-the-clock medical care and is attended to by his wife Corinna and a team of medics.
Therefore, measures were taken at the wedding to protect the privacy of the Formula One legend, as all guests were made to abide by strict rules so that Schumacher and his family could enjoy the celebrations without worrying about unwanted details of his condition being made public.
Topics: Formula 1, Michael Schumacher
Jack Kenmare