This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7931925.stm

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Swiss 'gigolo' admits blackmail Swiss blackmail 'gigolo' jailed
(about 1 hour later)
A Swiss man has pleaded guilty to seducing several rich women in order to swindle them out of millions of euros, at a trial in Munich, Germany. A Swiss man has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to seducing several rich women in order to con them of millions of euros.
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 - had faced up to 10 years in prison at the Munich trial.
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, who he had convinced to hand over nearly 7m euros.
In court, Sgarbi apologised to his victims and said he deeply regretted his actions. Sgarbi had apologised to his victims in court, saying he regretted his actions.
Sgarbi was surrounded by photographers as he entered the courtroom but sat expressionless while the charges of against him were read out. He was surrounded by photographers as he entered the courtroom but sat expressionless while the charges of against him were read out.
He was accused of receiving a total of 9m euro ($11m; £8m) from his victims, none of whom were in court.He was accused of receiving a total of 9m euro ($11m; £8m) from his victims, none of whom were in court.
Prosecution spokesman Anton Winkler told reporters Sgarbi was accused of attempted blackmail, having told his victims he had "compromising material" on them.Prosecution spokesman Anton Winkler told reporters Sgarbi was accused of attempted blackmail, having told his victims he had "compromising material" on them.
"In one case he said the material was stolen from him by the Mafia and now the Mafia was asking for money, but later he asked directly for money", said Mr Winkler. I deeply regret what has happened and apologise to the aggrieved ladies in this public hearing Helg Sgarbi
"In one case he said the material was stolen from him by the Mafia and now the Mafia was asking for money, but later he asked directly for money," said Mr Winkler.
"In the second case he directly blackmailed his victim and told her that he had pictures. He told her 'You pay or I go public with the pictures and your privacy'.""In the second case he directly blackmailed his victim and told her that he had pictures. He told her 'You pay or I go public with the pictures and your privacy'."
Three of the women were referred to by the initials H, S and R in the indictment, to protect their identities, while Mrs Klatten had given permission for her name to be listed. Three of the women were referred to in the indictment by the initials H, S and R, to protect their identities, while Mrs Klatten had given permission for her name to be listed.
Sgarbi's lawyer, Egon Geis, told the court the charges were "at their core, true", before Sgarbi himself told the court he regretted what he had done. Sgarbi's lawyer, Egon Geis, told the court the charges were "at their core, true", before Sgarbi himself addressed the court.
"I apologise to the women involved," he said. "I deeply regret what has happened and apologise to the aggrieved ladies in this public hearing," he said.
BlackmailBlackmail
Prosecutors say Sgarbi convinced Mrs Klatten, a married business tycoon who owns a 12.5% stake in BMW, to give him nearly 7m euros, which he said he needed to pay off the family of a girl he had injured in car accident in Florida. Mrs Klattern is not now expected to give evidence in courtProsecutors say Sgarbi met Mrs Klatten, a married business tycoon who owns a 12.5% stake in BMW, in an Austrian spa resort in July 2007.
In her witness statement, Mrs Klatten said he had been "charming, attentive and at the same time he seemed very sad".
"That stirred a feeling in me that we had something in common," she said.
They began an affair and in September that year, he convinced Mrs Klatten to give him nearly 7m euros by saying he needed to pay off the family of a girl he had injured in car accident in Florida.
The reclusive 46-year-old mother-of-three handed the money to him in a cardboard box in the basement of a Holiday Inn hotel in Munich.
HELG SGARBIHELG SGARBI
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 7m euros. Aged 44, born in Zurich.
She later dropped the charges and has since died, while he changed his name to Sgarbi. Originally had the surname Russak.
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. First reported to the police in 2001 by an 83-year old countess who had given him several million Euros.
He told the women he targeted he was a "special Swiss representative in crisis zones", which accounted for his sudden disappearances Told his victims he was a "special Swiss representative in crisis zones".
He told several of the women, including Mrs Klatten, that he needed money to pay off the family of a child he had run over in Florida. Described by police as a smooth operator who knew how to win the trust of his victims.
Alleged to have connections with criminal gangs.
Described as a specialist in mergers and acquisitions in a glowing job reference from Credit Suisse, read out in court.
He is said to have not spoken about the cases since his arrest "out of respect to the ladies concerned".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 handed the money to him in a cardboard box in the basement of a Holiday Inn hotel in Munich in September 2007.
He later asked her to give him a further 290m euros, which he said would enable them to start a new life together, but she refused to do so.He later asked her to give him a further 290m euros, which he said would enable them to start a new life together, but she refused to do so.
Mrs Klattern said he then threatened to make public a tape he had secretly made of them having sex in a Munich hotel room if he did not receive another 49m euros, a figure he later reduced to 14m.Mrs Klattern said he then threatened to make public a tape he had secretly made of them having sex in a Munich hotel room if he did not receive another 49m euros, a figure he later reduced to 14m.
In a blackmail letter, he is reported to have told Mrs Klatten: "While your risk is very high, my risks are irrelevant."In a blackmail letter, he is reported to have told Mrs Klatten: "While your risk is very high, my risks are irrelevant."
Mrs Klatten was one of a string of Sgarbi's alleged victims across Europe, who included the wealthy Countess Verena du Pasquier-Geubels, more than 50 years his senior. Mrs Klatten was one of a string of Sgarbi's alleged victims across Europe, who included the wealthy Countess Verena du Pasquier-Geubels, at 83 years old more than 50 years his senior.
She reported him to the police but later dropped the charges and died in 2002. He told the women he targeted he was a "special Swiss representative in crisis zones", which accounted for his sudden disappearances.
The countess reported him to the police in 2001 but later dropped the charges and died the following year.
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.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.
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. Sgarbi has not said where the money he is alleged to have received is being kept, or what has happened to the video he claims to have of Mrs Klatten.
He has also said nothing about Ernano Barreta, the man alleged to have been his accomplice, who is under investigation in Italy.
Before the trial, Sgarbi had been expected to face a sentence of up to 10 years. The prosecution have asked for a 9-year sentence, but the feeling is he will be given a reduced jail term because of his guilty plea, our correspondent says.