Trial for Swiss BMW 'blackmailer'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7842999.stm

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A Swiss man accused of blackmailing Germany's richest woman, BMW heiress Susanne Klatten, is due to stand trial in March, a Munich court has decided.

Helg Sgarbi has been charged with attempted blackmail, attempted fraud and fraud after allegedly secretly filming their trysts during an affair.

He allegedly targeted other rich women in similar scams.

The trial starts on 9 March. If convicted, Mr Sgarbi could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Mafia claim

Mrs Klatten, a married business tycoon who owns a 12.5% stake in BMW, had earlier said she ended the affair with Mr Sgarbi when he tried to blackmail her.

She reportedly gave him several million euros when he said he needed money to pay off the mafia.

Once their affair was over, he allegedly said he would release photos of the couple, taken in mid 2007, unless she paid him more.

But instead of giving away more of her fortune, the reclusive 46-year-old mother-of-three went to the police, her spokesman said in November 2008.