DailySun
The individual orchestrating the blackmail scheme involving Michael Schumacher has been reported to have threatened the release of “personal” photographs of the critically injured racing legend, according to a German court hearing.
A former security personnel for the Schumacher family allegedly sought “revenge” after his termination earlier this year.
4
4
4
Markus F, aged 53, is reported to have been dissatisfied following his dismissal and allegedly collaborated with two others to defraud the affluent family of millions.
German law enforcement is currently overseeing the investigation, with the three individuals facing court proceedings at Wuppertal District Court near Dortmund this week.
A staff member from the Schumacher household testified that she found emails between Markus and the family, wherein he demanded payment in exchange for keeping the private photos undisclosed.
Heike Puschmann recounted that the men had images of Michael in a wheelchair and threatened to leak them on the dark web.
read more in blackmail plot
She testified in court: “Emails were sent stating that if he did not receive his payment, he would target the Schumacher family.”
Puschmann, as a Schumacher employee, noted that she couldn’t recall the exact amount of money demanded in the correspondence.
However, she believed it to be less than three months’ salary for the former security guard at that time.
As of now, Markus has refrained from making statements in court, only confirming his name and address.
The intimate pictures are reportedly part of a collection of 1,500 private files believed to have been stolen from the Schumacher family home.
This sensitive information was moved onto four USB drives and two hard disks shortly before Markus’s dismissal, according to prosecutors.
Emails were sent indicating that if he didn’t receive his payment, he would pursue the Schumacher family
Heike Puschmann
The materials included photographs, videos, medical records, and even Schumacher’s medical file, as reported by BILD in July.
Markus is accused of misappropriating this data and collaborating with his long-time acquaintance and local bouncer Yilmaz T, aged 53, as stated by German authorities.
Yilmaz allegedly enlisted his son Daniel L to assist in contacting the Schumacher family before attempting to extort them.
Police estimate that the total sum the trio was soliciting was around £12 million.
Yilmaz, who has known Markus for more than twenty years, was reportedly promised a small commission for his assistance.
Authorities acted quickly to thwart the scheme soon after the initial contact was made with the Schumacher family.
During their first court appearance, Markus’s attorney claimed that Corinna Schumacher had requested him to digitize copies of photos of her husband.
This supposedly included the sensitive images.
4
However, it has been revealed that one of the hard drives, which may contain data on the F1 legend, has reportedly gone missing.
Authorities have indicated that they could potentially track the alleged blackmailers using “technical measures.”
On July 4, law enforcement apprehended Markus at his residence in Wülfrath.
They also captured Yilmaz and his son Daniel L shortly thereafter for their respective roles in the alleged extortion attempt.
All three individuals are facing charges and are currently engaged in legal proceedings.
Prosecutors are pursuing minimum sentences of four years if they are found guilty.
At the Wuppertal District Court, Yilmaz T maintained his innocence, claiming he was merely attempting to assist a financially struggling nurse.
I didn’t believe I was doing anything wrong. He told me he had photos of someone and wanted to sell them
Daniel L
His son Daniel has confessed to his involvement in the plot but asserts he was unaware of the nature of the materials being transmitted.
The 30-year-old is charged with providing his father with an untraceable Gmail account.
He is also alleged to have sent the questionable images on behalf of his father.
Daniel explained: “I didn’t see the content. My dad merely mentioned it was a legal, normal matter, and that was the end of the discussion for me, so I didn’t ask any further questions.
“I didn’t think it was negative. He just mentioned he had photos of someone and wanted to sell them.
“I didn’t inquire about the specifics. He’s my dad. I just took it at face value, that was all.”
Corinna Schumacher, 55, has already requested measures to safeguard her husband during the trial.
She aims to prevent the public from learning about the current state of health of the seven-time champion if it is discussed.
Corinna has dedicated over a decade to maintaining a close team of individuals who have access to information regarding Michael’s health since his life-changing skiing accident.
The F1 icon has not been seen or heard from since, with only limited information released on his current condition.
What happened to Michael Schumacher?
MICHAEL Schumacher’s life was endangered over a decade ago as medical teams labored tirelessly to keep him alive following a tragic skiing accident.
The F1 legend suffered severe brain injuries and spent 250 days in a coma.
He received exceptional medical care while undergoing several intricate brain surgeries.
In 2013, the retired seven-time champion, along with his then 14-year-old son, skied on the Combe de Saulire run in the exclusive French resort of Meribel.
Helmet camera footage revealed that he was not skiing at high speed when his skis struck a hidden rock beneath the snow.
He was propelled 11.5 feet forward and collided with a boulder that shattered his helmet, requiring airlift to the hospital for two life-saving operations.
At one point, his family was advised to prepare for the worst, as his condition was significantly more critical than initially understood.
During this time, doctors indicated Schumacher would likely remain in an induced coma for a minimum of 48 hours while his body and mind healed.
However, the coma extended for 250 days — a duration exceeding eight months.
After waking up in June 2014, he was released from the hospital and returned home to Lake Geneva for continuing rehabilitation.
Since then, his wife Corinna and their close-knit circle of friends have diligently worked to keep information about his health status confidential.
Only sparse details have emerged, including claims that Schumacher is confined to a wheelchair but can respond to his environment.
In 2019, it was reported that Schumacher was slated for groundbreaking stem cell therapy aimed at repairing and regenerating his nervous system.
Prominent French cardiologist Dr Philippe Menasche, who had previously performed surgery on him, was to oversee the procedure using cells from his heart directed to his brain.
After the treatment at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, he was reported to be “cognizant,” although further information regarding his condition remained limited.
