Cops say chauffeur tried blackmailing Yoko Ono

December 14th, 2006

New York, NY - Police are saying that Yoko Ono's chauffeur tried to extort $2 million from her with embarrassing photos and threatened to kill her.

Koral Karsan, 50, was arrested at his home in suburban Long Island and held in custody on $500,000 bail, also accused Ono, 73, of sexually harassing him.

John Lennon's widow, Ono, said the extortion attempt began on Friday, the 26th anniversary of Lennon's slaying by deranged fan Mark David Chapman, Ono's spokesman said.

"There is a letter demanding $2 million. He has threatened the lives of the victim, her friends and her family," Assistant DA Maureen O'Connor told the judge, "There are people standing by, we are told, ready to kill on his orders."

"We are going to vigorously dispute these charges," defense lawyer Patrick Kevin Brosnahan told reporters. "There are other issues."