Extortion, arrest and suicide: the day they stole Michael Schumacher's medical history

It has been more than five years since Michael Schumacher was a victim of the accident, a five-year period during which information about his state of health is communicated to the mbad media. The hermeticism about his physical condition has generated many questions and the only one who tried to reveal concrete truths about German was found dead.

There was a disturbing episode in June 2014, when the Formula 1 heptacampeón was transferred from the Grenoble Hospital in France to Lausanne in Switzerland. Six months after the tragic accident, when A man has set out to steal the medical history of German.

Everything was ready for transfer on June 16th. Schumacher had made slight improvements after undergoing two brain operations and the family had chosen to take him to a hospital closer to his home in Gland. For that, They decided to appeal to one of the most prestigious rescue companies in the country: Rega.

The migration was successful, at least it was believed, a few weeks later, the representative of the pilot, Sabine Kehm, issued an unexpected statement.

"The stolen documents and data have been on offer for several days. Who offers them ensures that it is Michael Schumacher's medical history. We can not say whether these documents are authentic. In any case, it is clear that the documents were stolen. The thief has been reported and the authorities are already working on the subject. "

The family of "Kaiser" had learned that Someone offered the file to the German, Swiss and French press in exchange for 50,000 euros. Several journalists, who understood and respected the confidentiality of the case, were responsible for sending him this information.

The eye of the authorities focused on the Rega company, which promptly issued a notification: "Rega has no evidence that any of its collaborators have been involved in the theft of the disc and guarantees at all times respect for the patient's rights and medical confidentiality. "

However, the French police got the IP address of the computer from which the media were contacted of communication and its location coincided with that of a leader of the relief society. The identity of the suspect has always remained secret, but a publication of the Swiss portal Blick He badured that it was one of the school officials. Some time later, some media confirmed their nationality (German) and their age (54 years).

Subsequently, Rega was obliged to acknowledge that they had received a medical report from Schumacher of the Grenoble hospital, to be able to "give a technical opinion and organize the appropriate transfer by ambulance".

Of the evidence, the police determined that the suspect allegedly made a copy of these minutes, which a few days later tried to sell to the press.

The complaint has reached the Zürich II Prosecutor's Office, in which a criminal case has been opened for breach of professional secrecy, punishable by up to three years' imprisonment from prison. The detainee underwent a first interrogation during which he denied being the protagonist of the theft of the case and was delayed in prison pending a meeting with the prosecutor.

This moment has never come. The next morning, a guard responsible for bringing him breakfast He found him hanged in his cell in Zurich.

"The evidence indicates that no other person has been involved in the hanging", was the statement given by the police authorities, which claimed not to have seen signs that the man was mentally unstable.

"We are speechless and deeply shocked", told the news agency AFP Sabine Kehm, after learning what happened.

Rega Chief Ernest Kohler expressed his sadness: "We are deeply touched to learn that an employee of Rega, suspected of breach of professional secrecy, arrested yesterday, has committed suicide. in his cell. This tragic event leaves us speechless. Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the family and loved ones to the deceased. "

From Zurich it was announced that criminal proceedings for breach of professional secrecy have been suspended after the suicide and that the suspect was entitled "to the presumption of innocence".