Schumacher’s wife issues statement after blackmail furore
Michael Schumacher’s wife has issued a rare statement after three men were found guilty for blackmailing the Formula One legend.
Corinna Schumacher says the family has appealed the two-year suspended prison sentence given to the “mastermind” behind the shocking plot.
The perpetrators demanded $25 million (AUD) from the family in exchange of not releasing hundreds of private photos and videos of the Schumachers as well as digitised copies of Michael’s medical records.
The public prosecutor’s office said 900 pictures and nearly 600 videos of the family and Schumacher’s digitised medical records were confiscated from the perpetrators.
A district court in western Germany sentenced the main defendant to three years in prison, while his son received a six-month suspended sentence and a fine of $2,000 (AUD).
Another defendant, former security guard for the family Markus Fritsche, received a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of $4,000 (AUD) for aiding and abetting the other two men.
In a statement released on behalf of the family, Corinna said, “We have appealed against what we consider to be the far too lenient sentence for Mr. F.”
“In my opinion, he was the mastermind behind this. What still shocks me most is the massive breach of trust. He should receive a punishment that deters any potential copycats.”
Corinna and her family are considering further action against others allegedly involved in the operation.
“We do not share all of the court’s statements, in particular that Mr F. is only accused of aiding and abetting and not of complicity,” the Schumacher family’s lawyer Thilo Damm said.
“You can assume that we will exhaust all legal remedies available to us.”
The family has shielded Schumacher from public view since his serious skiing accident in December 2013.
Image credits: Attila Kisbenedek/EPA/Shutterstock Editorial