Arrest of Former Security Guard in Schumacher Blackmail Case
A former security guard for Michael Schumacher's family has been arrested in connection with an attempted blackmail scheme targeting the ex-Formula 1 driver's relatives. The Wuppertal prosecutor's office announced the arrest of the 52-year-old man on Thursday. This individual, who had previously worked as a security agent for the Schumacher family, is suspected of playing a key role in the blackmail attempt.
The Role of the Intermediary
The suspect was responsible for the digitization of private images and allegedly acted as an intermediary between the Schumacher family and two men suspected of being the primary blackmailers. These two men, a 53-year-old and his 30-year-old son from Wuppertal, were arrested in June. They had demanded millions of euros from the family, threatening to release private information and photos of Schumacher on the dark web if their demands were not met.
Investigation and Arrests
The investigation, conducted in Switzerland and Germany, uncovered that the intermediary had exchanged the coveted data for money. This was confirmed by the elder of the blackmailing duo. The police arrested the two men in a supermarket parking lot near Frankfurt. They had sent mail to the Schumacher family to prove their claims. A large number of data carriers, including hard drives, USB sticks, and mobile phones, were seized from the intermediary's home and are currently being examined.
Previous Blackmail Attempts
This is not the first time the Schumacher family has been targeted by blackmailers. In 2017, a 25-year-old man was sentenced to a suspended sentence for attempting to extort 900,000 euros from Corinna Schumacher, Michael Schumacher's wife, by threatening harm to their children. The current suspects face charges of attempted extortion, which can result in a fine or a prison sentence of up to five years. Little information is available about Michael Schumacher's current health, although he has been kept away from the media since his skiing accident in 2013.
