Schumacher Family Increases Caution with Employees Following blackmail Attempt
Wuppertal,Germany – The family of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher has become more guarded in its interactions with employees following a blackmail attempt involving private photos and videos,his manager Sabine Kehm testified at the Wuppertal district court.The incident, stemming from the family’s efforts to protect Schumacher’s privacy since his severe skiing accident in 2013, has led to a noticeable shift in how the family approaches relationships with those who work for them.
Kehm stated the breach of trust has resulted in the family maintaining a greater distance and exercising increased caution. “The breach of trust has led the family to be more distant from the people who work for them and to be more cautious,” she told the court during the appeal process.
The blackmailers attempted to extort 15 million euros from the family, threatening to publish the images on the darknet.Schumacher has remained largely out of the public eye since suffering a serious head injury in the 2013 skiing accident.
“I personally find it extremely perfidious that people want to exploit the suffering in such a way, so it’s clear that the family is being tougher on their people,” Kehm added. She noted that Corinna Schumacher, Michael’s wife, views the situation “with bitterness,” and expressed concern over renewed media presence around the family’s property. “This makes you a bit unfree.”
In february, the Wuppertal district court sentenced the primary defendant, a repeat offender, to three years in prison for attempted extortion. A former family security employee received a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 2,400 euros for aiding and abetting. Both verdicts were appealed. The appeal of the sentence for the main defendant’s son, who received six months probation for aiding and abetting, has been finalized. Further hearings are scheduled through early December.
Source: ntv.de, uzh/dpa
