A 2012 file photo of Schumacher.
DUSSELDORF: The trial of three men accused of trying to blackmail the family of legendary former Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher began today in the western German city of Wuppertal.
All three defendants offered statements to the court.
One of the men was the alleged leader of the scheme, and faces charges of attempted extortion.
The other two men are charged with aiding and abetting.
The indictment states that the blackmailer had demanded €15 million (RM70mil), or else he would publish private photos and videos of the family online.
Schumacher's family have strictly guarded their privacy since 2013, when the famed driver suffered a severe head injury in a skiing accident.
There have been almost no private photos or videos of the Schumacher family since that date, and none of Michael Schumacher himself.
One of the men charged with aiding and abetting is a 53-year-old who had worked for the Schumacher family as an employee of a security company.
He is alleged to have made copies of private image and video files.
Using the material as leverage, a man of the same age from Wuppertal is said to have called the Schumacher family in Switzerland to demand the payment.
His 30-year-old son is said to have helped in the scheme.
The man had a previous criminal record, and was reportedly on probation at the time of his arrest.
Ten witnesses have been summoned for the first day of the trial, including two police officers.
