Michael Schumacher’s former bodyguard is set to face trial on Tuesday over allegations he attempted to extort £12 million from the F1 legend’s family.
Markus Fritsche, 53, who worked for the seven-time Formula One champion for eight years, is accused of threatening to release highly personal photos, videos and medical information unless the payment was made.
The trial will take place at a German district court in Wuppertal, where Fritsche faces “a severe prison sentence” if found guilty, according to Bild.
Two other men are also accused of involvement in the alleged blackmail plot.
Michael Schumacher’s former bodyguard faces a severe prison sentence
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Fritsche was hired by the Schumacher family in 2012, eighteen months before Michael’s life-changing skiing accident.
Following the accident, Schumacher has required 24-hour care and has not been seen in public since.
Fritsche served as a close confidant to the family during his employment, but the relationship soured in 2020.
The prosecution alleges that after the Schumachers decided to change Michael’s care plan and let Fritsche go, he became bitter.
It is claimed he then hatched a plot to blackmail the family, allegedly storing and stealing approximately 1,500 pictures and 200 videos from the Schumacher villa.
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Michael Schumacher is renowned as one of the best F1 drivers of all time
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The two men had been known to each other for more than 20 years and lived close to each other in Wuppertal.
The alleged plot was uncovered following a joint operation by Swiss and German police, with Wuppertal public prosecutor Wolf-Tilman Baumert announcing in September that the investigation had been completed.
The alleged plot began to unfold on June 3 when Tozturkan reportedly used a withheld number to contact the family about the sensitive material.
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On June 11, Lins allegedly sent four images to the Schumacher residence, demanding €15m (£12m) to be paid in two instalments at the family lawyer’s office within a month.
The scheme quickly unravelled when Tozturkan and his son were arrested on June 19 in a Netto car park following police surveillance. Fritsche was apprehended two weeks later at his apartment.
If convicted, Tozturkan could face up to 15 years in prison for what prosecutors describe as “attempted extortion in a particularly serious case”.
Lins has been charged with aiding and abetting extortion.
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