The family of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher has been forced to adopt a much stricter security protocol around his care following a distressing blackmail attempt that targeted his confidential medical records.
This drastic change in policy was revealed during an appeal trial connected to the case, highlighting the profound breach of trust the family has endured.
The Extortion Plot and Trial
The shocking case came to light after three men were put on trial for attempting to extort millions from the Schumacher family. The plot involved stolen hard drives containing over 1,500 images, videos, and confidential medical records related to the seven-time world champion's health.
The data was allegedly downloaded from a computer and passed through a chain of individuals, including Schumacher's former bodyguard, Markus Fritsche. The final defendants, nightclub bouncer Yilmaz Tozturkan and his IT expert son Daniel Lins, threatened to upload the sensitive material to the dark web unless a ransom of £12 million was paid.
In February, the court delivered its verdicts. Tozturkan received a three-year prison sentence but remains free on €10,000 bail, while Lins was given a six-month suspended sentence. Fritsche, who denied involvement, received a two-year suspended sentence.
A Family's Reaction and Lasting Impact
The Schumacher family, who joined the proceedings as co-plaintiffs, publicly criticised the sentences as 'far too lenient', expressing fear that the lack of severity could encourage copycat crimes.
Speaking at the Wuppertal Regional Court, Sabine Kehm, Schumacher's former manager and press officer, confirmed the profound impact of the event. 'The breach of trust has led to the family maintaining a greater distance from the people who work for them, to being more cautious,' Kehm stated.
She revealed that Corinna Schumacher is now enforcing a 'tougher stance' on who is permitted access to her husband. This has resulted in the inner circle around Michael Schumacher being reduced to just nine trusted individuals.
This intimate group is reported to include his wife Corinna, their children Mick and Gina-Maria, Sabine Kehm, and long-time friends from his racing career such as former F1 boss Jean Todt and ex-technical director Ross Brawn.
A History of Privacy Invasions
The blackmail attempt is not an isolated incident in the family's long battle to protect Schumacher's privacy. The racing icon has not been seen in public since his catastrophic skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013.
In a previous violation, an executive at the air rescue company that transferred Schumacher to Switzerland was arrested for allegedly trying to steal and sell his medical files. The man was found dead in his prison cell in Zurich before he could face court.
On another occasion, a photograph smuggled out of the family's Swiss home was offered to media outlets for one million euros. German prosecutors intervened, and the image never surfaced, maintaining the strict veil of secrecy that Corinna Schumacher has fought to uphold for over a decade.
