German Justice Moves to Prosecute Blackmailers of Michael Schumacher's Family
In a significant legal development, German authorities have requested the referral to court of three suspects involved in an attempted blackmail scheme targeting the family of former Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher. The suspects, a 53-year-old father and his 30-year-old son from Wuppertal, are accused of trying to extort a staggering 15 million euros from the Schumacher family. They allegedly threatened to publish sensitive data on the darknet, a hidden part of the internet, which the family sought to keep private.
Details of the Alleged Blackmail Scheme
According to a press release from the prosecution, the father is accused of purchasing sensitive data from a former security guard who had worked for Michael Schumacher's family. This transaction reportedly took place for a five-figure sum, estimated to be between 10,000 and 99,000 euros. The former security guard allegedly copied the data without authorization when he left his job in March 2021. The sensitive content includes images of Michael Schumacher before and after his life-altering skiing accident in December 2013, which left him with severe head injuries.
Legal Consequences and Sentencing Risks
The blackmailing attempts escalated on June 3, when the elder suspect made repeated calls to a family employee, demanding the exorbitant sum. The family employee requested proof of the data's existence, prompting the father to involve his son, who then sent information from an untraceable email address. If convicted, the elder suspect faces a prison sentence of between one and fifteen years, while his son, charged with complicity, could receive a lesser sentence. The former security guard faces charges for complicity in attempted blackmail and invasion of privacy, with the possibility of a severe prison term pending the court's approval of the prosecution's referral.
