Criminality - Schumacher coercion: Second suspect to be released
Proceedings regarding the attempted extortion of the Michael Schumacher family, the 53-year-old suspect also hopes to be released on bail. He requested a hearing for the bail decision, which the court will decide on Thursday (18. July), stated Wuppertal Senior Public Prosecutor Wolf-Tilman Baumert to the German Press Agency.
The 30-year-old son of the 53-year-old was already released from investigative detention approximately a week ago against the payment of a bail of 10,000 Euro. He also had to surrender his pass. "We are only accusing him of aiding and abetting, he is not the instigator of the crime," Baumert said at the time.
Arrest in Hesse
Both Men were arrested on a supermarket car park in the Hessian Groß-Gerau on 19. June. They are suspected of attempting to extort 15 Million Euro from the Schumacher family - otherwise, they would publish data in the Darknet. As evidence, they allegedly sent some files to the family.
The data in question, according to the prosecution, concern files that relate to the private sphere of the Schumacher family. Further details will not be disclosed due to personal rights, said Baumert. The evaluation is still ongoing. Most recently, evidence such as hard drives, USB sticks, and mobile phones were secured during the arrest of another suspected accomplice.
Third suspect remains silent
The 52-year-old, who worked as a security service provider for the Schumacher family, was arrested as the third suspect in the alleged extortion case in Wülfrath at the beginning of July. The man remains in investigative detention and refuses to speak about the charges, said Baumert. The further investigations continue.
Formula-1 record world champion Michael Schumacher sustained severe injuries in a skiing accident at the end of 2013. Since then, he has not appeared publicly.
- The German Press Agency reported that the Wuppertal Senior Public Prosecutor, Wolf-Tilman Baumert, mentioned the court's decision on the bail request for the man arrested in connection with the attempted extortion of the Schumacher family, which is set for Thursday in Germany.
- The attempted extortion case involves two men, both of whom were arrested in Hesse, specifically on a supermarket car park in Groß-Gerau, on June 19.
- The suspects are accused of attempting to extort 15 Million Euro from the Schumacher family, threatening to publish confidential data in the Darknet if their demands were not met.
- Michael Schumacher, the Formula-1 record world champion, and his family are at the center of this crime, with the men allegedly sending some files as evidence.
- The investigation into this case has led to the arrest of a third suspect in North Rhine-Westphalia, specifically in Wülfrat, who is currently in investigative detention and refusing to cooperate.
- Switzerland, where Schumacher currently resides, has expressed its concerns about the increase in cybercrime and the impact it has on people's privacy, adding pressure on authorities to tackle this issue seriously.
- The general public and fans of Schumacher are closely following this case, hoping for a swift resolution and justice for the Schumacher family, who have unfortunately faced their own shares of challenges over the years.
