LATEST: The driver accused of attempting to extort $2 million (£1.02 million) from his employer YOKO ONO insists the Japanese singer/artist is simply trying to prevent him from suing her for sexual harassment.
Turkish-born KORAL KARSAN, 50, was arrested on Wednesday (13DEC06) and arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday (14DEC06) on charges of first-degree attempted grand larceny.
Assistant District Attorney MAUREEN O'CONNOR told the court the driver promised JOHN LENNON's widow he would release embarrassing recordings and photographs of her, as well as threatening her, saying "he had people on standby waiting to kill the victim on his orders" unless she paid him $2 million.
O'Connor asked JUDGE TANYA KENNEDY to set a high bail because she feared Karsan was an "extraordinary flight risk" because he has family in Turkey where he lived before he moved to New York 10 years ago.
A letter, supposedly written by Karsan, which was given to Ono on her late husband's anniversary of his death (08DEC06), was read in court.
Part of the letter read, "I will not only write about these recordings but will distribute them to European broadcast stations. Be advised I am moving back to Turkey permanently and will publish my book in Turkey and will distribute the prints throughout the internet from Iran where I have already secured e-commerce capability." Karsan denies the charges and according to his lawyer PATRICK KEVIN BROSNAHAN, "There are other issues between my client and the complainant." As he left a Manhattan police station on Wednesday, Karsan claimed Ono's allegations were an attempt "to stop me from pursuing a sexual harassment case".
Ono's longtime lawyer ELLIOT MINTZ says, "This lady has never harassed anyone. She is the victim of a cruel and malicious shakedown." Judge Kennedy has jailed Karsan until he posts a $500,000 (£256,000) bond or $250,000 (£128,000).