Jakarta – A security guard for the family of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher is currently on trial for allegedly attempting to extort money after learning he was about to be fired.
According to the prosecutor’s statement, the bodyguard, named Markus Fritsche, is accused of abusing his position to steal 1,500 photos and 200 videos from Michael Schumacher’s family home in Switzerland.
Fritsche is said to have taken four USB thumb drives containing media without permission, with the help of his son Daniel Lins, a computer expert, and a nightclub worker friend, Yilmaz Tozturkan. They allegedly tried to extort the Schumacher family by demanding a ransom of 15 million euros (approximately Rp 250 billion).
The prosecution claims that Fritsche used his position within the family security team to access the photos and videos. The motive was said to be revenge after Fritsche learned he was being fired in early 2024.
If the family refused to cooperate, Fritsche and his accomplices planned to send the photos and videos to the deep web.
The Guardian reported that the stolen media included photos of Schumacher after his fatal ski accident. The Schumacher family is known to be very protective of their privacy regarding his condition.
As reported by ESPN, the Schumacher family initially received a phone call on June 3 as a warning about the stolen materials, with evidence later sent to the family via email. Another email followed on June 11, which included four images and the ransom demand.
Swiss authorities were able to trace the caller’s number and made an arrest on June 19.
On December 29, 2013, Schumacher suffered a skiing accident in the Alps. He fell and hit his head hard on a rock.
The rest is history. Schumacher has been in a coma ever since. He was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury.
As of December 5, 2024, Schumacher remains in the same condition. There are no signs of recovery, and the family has kept the condition of the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion confidential.
