It became known about a new scandal that shook the world of Formula 1. The legendary racing driver Michael Schumacher became the victim of blackmail from the former bodyguard of his family, Markus Fritsche. This was the result of the fact that Fritsche gained access to the confidential data of Schumacher's family and began to threaten the publication of personal photos and videos on which the private life of the famous athlete was recorded.
Michael Schumacher's name is again in the spotlight, but this time because of a shocking scandal related to alleged blackmail. The Daily Mirror writes that the former bodyguard of the Formula 1 legend Marcus Friche was involved in an attempt to extort a large sum of 12 million pounds from Schumacher's family.
Since the accident at a ski resort in the French Alps, Schumacher's life has changed forever. The athlete, who is now 55 years old, has not been seen in public for a long time since the tragedy, and the German's family tried to keep his wealth a secret, giving access to it only to a trusted circle of people.
One of those highly trusted was Markus Fritsche, who had worked for the Schumacher family for about 18 months before the 2013 crash. As it turned out, he had access to Michael's medical information, including test results and rehabilitation videos.
After the contract ended, according to German prosecutors, he allegedly decided to use this information against the family. Moreover, during the investigation, it turned out that he did not act alone: his old friend Yilmaz Tozturkan and his son Lins were involved in the conspiracy.
How extortionists wanted to get money
The scheme of the alleged criminals was thought out in detail. Fritsche handed over 1,500 images, 200 videos and other confidential materials to accomplices. This information was stored on four USB drives and two hard drives that he removed from the Schumacher home.
In the first stage, the conspirators contacted the family and demanded £12 million, threatening to publish the data on the dark web. Tozturkan called the family from an anonymous number and then sent several photos to prove that they had the materials. At the same time, the criminals gave the legendary racer's family a month to make a decision, noting that the ransom should be paid in two parts at the lawyer's office.
However, despite the pressure, the Schumacher family did not succumb to blackmail. The German police started tracking the suspects, and a week after the first contact, on June 19, Yilmaz Tozturkan and his son were arrested. Marcus Friche was also under investigation, although he was released on bail. The police recovered the carriers with the stolen information, which became a key piece of evidence in the case.
Trial of blackmailers
It recently became known that the German prosecutor's office has completed the investigation, and in December 2024 the court hearings will begin. The accused face serious terms. Tozturkan was charged with extortion, and his son and Friche were charged with aiding and abetting.
"Prosecutors are asking for at least four years, but because of the huge amount they are asking for, a superior judge may impose a more severe sentence if the trio is found guilty," the authors of the material noted.
