The trial investigating a blackmail plot against Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher has confirmed that a hard drive believed to contain ‘intimate’ pictures and medical files is missing.
A member of the seven-time World Champion’s security team orchestrated a £12 million blackmail plot, German prosecutors have alleged.
Following Schumacher’s devastating skiing accident in December 2013, where he suffered a serious head injury, information about his condition has been kept secret, and he has not been seen in public for more than 10 years.
Michael Schumacher’s key Formula 1 statistics First race 1991 Belgian Grand Prix World Championships 7 (1994-95, 2000-04) Number of races 308 Number of wins 91 Number of pole positions 68 Career points 1,566
Michael Schumacher Blackmail Plot
Private information and images have been stolen from the Schumacher family
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Markus Fritsche, 53, is alleged to have taken advantage of his role within the family’s security team to steal private photos and images as revenge after he found out he would be fired earlier this year. It is alleged that Fritsche, his son, Daniels Lins, 30, and a friend who was a nightclub bouncer, Yilmaz Tozturkan, 53, hatched a plot threatening to release the private information onto the dark web if their ransom was not met.
The trio are alleged by German prosecutors to have stolen 1,500 images and 200 videos, which they demanded £12 million in exchange for the safe return of the material. Prosecutors have claimed that the information was taken from the family home on two hard drives and four USB sticks, with one hard drive yet to be retrieved.
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Schumacher’s family received a phone call on the 3rd of June from Tozturkan, allegedly alerting the family to the stolen material with an email sent soon after confirming this. Then, four days later, the family allegedly received another email containing four of the private images and the details of the thieves’ ransom demands.
Arrests Have Been Made in Michael Schumacher Blackmail Case
Three arrests have been made, but a hard drive is still missing
Three arrests were made on the 19th of June after Swiss authorities traced the caller’s phone number. Tozturkan reportedly later told police that he stored the stolen material at family and friends’ houses. Local police were able to successfully recover all four USB sticks, but just one hard drive.
It is reported that when addressing Corinna Schumacher’s lawyer, Fritsche admitted wrongdoing and pleaded for forgiveness. He said: “I take responsibility for this mistake. I did this. Please tell the family I am sorry.”
However, despite what appears to be a confession, the trial is expected to last five days with a verdict due in the new year.
Michael Schumacher Hard Drive Containing Photos & Medical Files ‘Missing’
