Former Schumacher security guard demanded R$ 81 million not to leak photos and medical history
A former security guard of Michael Schumacher tried to extort the family of the seven-time Formula 1 champion by threatening to leak photos and the medical history of the former driver, who has not been seen in public since December 2013, when he suffered a serious brain injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps.
According to the German daily Bild, a man identified as Markus F., 52, demanded 15 million euros (about R$ 81 million) from Schumacher’s relatives to prevent the material from being leaked.
According to the German newspaper, which had access to investigation documents, Markus had about 1,500 files of the former driver’s private life. He worked as a security guard for the family for at least five years and was dismissed in 2021.
Owner of an IT consulting company, Markus F. was in debt, according to Bild’s investigation. He sought to recover financially by applying the scam to Michael Schumacher’s family. For this, he hired another security colleague, Yilmaz T., 53, who was responsible for contacting the family with the threat.
Arrested by the German police along with his 30-year-old son Daniel, Yilmaz testified and provided Markus F.’s name, the mastermind of the scam.
Daniel was released from prison last Monday (8) after paying a bail of 10,000 euros (approximately R$ 59,000). Markus and Yilmaz remain in custody of the German authorities.
