Yoko Ono's chauffeur arrested

A man who had worked as Yoko Ono's chauffeur was arrested in New York City Wednesday (December 13th) for trying to extort $2 million from her by threatening to release embarrassing photos and tapes of her, the Associated Press reports. He also talked about killing her, her son Sean Lennon, and himself.

Ono, whose husband John Lennon was murdered by a deranged fan outside their home in the Dakota apartment building in 1980, reported the plot to police, who then arrested the 50-year-old Koral Karsan. Karsan has driven Ono for at least six years, usually on a daily basis.

Ono's security staff told police detectives that Karsan had written her a rambling note that said he had secretly photographed her private moments and audiotaped her while talking in the car he was driving, and would go public with the material if he didn't pay her. He dropped the note off at the Dakota apartment building on December 8th, the anniversary of John Lennon's death, along with a photograph of Ono in nightclothes.

Investigators later taped Karsan talking about killing Ono, her son Sean Lennon, and himself.

Ono's spokesperson Eliot Mintz told the Associated Press, "She is one woman who has been through enough... For an employee -- especially a trusted employee who drove her -- to attempt a shakedown has left her just absolutely shocked." He added, "You're reminded that this takes place around that time of the anniversary, when she is in a particularly vulnerable position... It just adds insult to injury. This one's really cold."

While being led into a police station, Karsan denied the extortion allegations.
Submit the above story to:

Del.icio.us   Digg   reddit   StumbleUpon   Facebook