Wuppertal: Three men have been found guilty of attempted blackmail in a case involving Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher and his family. The perpetrators demanded 15 million Euros (USD 15.6 million) from the Schumacher family, threatening to release hundreds of private photos and videos, as well as digitised copies of Schumacher's medical records.

The district court in Wuppertal, western Germany, sentenced the main defendant to three years in prison, while his son was given a six-month suspended sentence along with a fine of 1,200 Euros, as reported by news agency dpa on Wednesday. The main defendant had previous convictions on record.

Another defendant, a former security guard employed by the Schumacher family, was handed a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of 2,400 Euros for aiding and abetting the blackmail plot. Judge Birgit Neubert stated that the former security guard made the most significant contribution to the crime through his breach of trust.

The Schumacher family has consistently shielded Michael Schumacher from public view ever since his tragic skiing accident in December 2013. The seven-time F1 world champion was skiing in the French Alps at Meribel when he fell, hitting his head on a rock and suffering a near-fatal brain injury.

Following the accident, Schumacher was transferred from the hospital in September 2014 and has since been receiving private care at the family home in Switzerland. The family has kept his health and recovery private, away from public attention.

The threat to release private material

The three men threatened to release the private material of the Schumacher family on the darknet, prompting legal action. According to the public prosecutor’s office, approximately 900 pictures and nearly 600 videos of the family, alongside Schumacher's digitised medical records, were confiscated from the perpetrators. However, a hard drive containing additional sensitive material remains missing.

Family’s legal action

Representing the Schumacher family, lawyer Thilo Damm confirmed that the family intends to appeal the sentence handed to the former security guard. The family had originally requested a four-year prison sentence for the guard.

While the two other defendants admitted to the charges, the security guard's lawyer denied the allegations and sought an acquittal, claiming his client had not stolen the sensitive data.

Michael Schumacher’s legacy

Michael Schumacher, who retired from Formula 1 in 2012 after winning a record 91 races, is regarded as one of the sport’s greatest drivers. He secured five consecutive world titles with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004, with two additional titles earned with Benetton in 1994 and 1995. Despite his accident and ongoing recovery, Schumacher's legacy in F1 and the world of motorsport remains monumental.

AP