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Swiss 'gigolo' admits blackmail Swiss 'gigolo' admits blackmail
(40 minutes later)
A Swiss man has pleaded guilty of seducing several rich women in order to swindle them out of millions of dollars at a trial in Munich. A Swiss man has pleaded guilty to seducing several rich women in order to swindle them out of millions of dollars, at a trial in Munich, Germany.
Helg Sgarbi - nicknamed by the media as the Swiss Gigolo - faces up to 10 years in prison for fraud and extortion.Helg Sgarbi - nicknamed by the media as the Swiss Gigolo - faces up to 10 years in prison for fraud and extortion.
His most prominent victim was Susanne Klatten, the heiress of the German car manufacturer BMW.His most prominent victim was Susanne Klatten, the heiress of the German car manufacturer BMW.
Mr Sgarbi told the court he deeply regretted his actions and apologised to his victims. Sgarbi told the court he deeply regretted his actions and apologised to his victims.
Prosecutors say Mrs Klatten gave Helg Sgarbi nearly $9m, but went to the police after he tried to blackmail her. Prosecutors say Mrs Klatten, a married business tycoon who owns a 12.5% stake in BMW, gave Helg Sgarbi nearly $9m, but went to the police after he tried to blackmail her.
Mrs Klatten, a married business tycoon who owns a 12.5% stake in BMW, said he secretly videoed them having sex in a Munich hotel and threatened to make the tape public if he did not receive another $18m. HELG SGARBI
The reclusive Susanne Klatten may give evidence at the trialBut instead of giving away more of her fortune, the reclusive 46-year-old mother-of-three went to the police. Originally called Russak, he was first reported to the police by an 83-year old countess, who said he had seduced and persuaded her to hand over several million Euros.
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Munich says Mr Sgarbi sat expressionless in court while the charges against him were read out. She later dropped the charges and has since died, while he changed his name to Sgarbi.
His lawyer then told the court the accusations were basically accurate. Sgarbi has been described by police as a smooth operator who knew how to win the trust of his victims and is alleged to have connections with criminal gangs.
As he has pleaded guilty, Mr Sgarbi is expected to face a shorter sentence. He told the women he targeted he was a "special Swiss representative in crisis zones", which accounted for his sudden disappearances
It had been thought that Mrs Klatten, who normally shies away from publicity, could have testified if Mr Sgarbi did not confess to the alleged crimes. He told several of the women, including Mrs Klattern, that he needed money to pay off the family of a child he had run over in Florida.
There is a huge amount of media attention on the trial, which is being described as one of the most remarkable and sensational in German judicial history, says our correspondent. He is said to have not spoken about the cases since his arrest "out of respect to the ladies concerned".
The reclusive 46-year-old mother-of-three said he secretly videoed them having sex in a Munich hotel and threatened to make the tape public if he did not receive another $18m.
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Munich says there has been a huge amount of media attention on the trial, which is being described as one of the most remarkable and sensational in German judicial history.
Sgarbi was surrounded by photographers as he entered the courtroom but sat expressionless while the charges against him were read out.
Three of the women were referred to by the initials H, S and R to protect their identities, while Mrs Klattern was listed by name.
Sgarbi's lawyer then told the court the accusations were basically accurate.
Before the trial, Sgarbi had been expected to face a sentence of up to 10 years, but the feeling is it will be reduced because of his guilty plea, our correspondent says.