Yoko Ono's chauffeur, accused of trying to blackmail the late Beatle's wife of $2 million, lost a bid Friday to get out on bail. An appeals court judge in Manhattan rejected the request for bail from Koral Karsan of Amityville, court officials said. Karsan's attorney, Robert Gottlieb of Commack, said Appellate Division Justice James M.
Catterson left the door open for another bail application if Karsan can show the Manhattan district attorney's office is misrepresenting evidence in the case. "We're going to be demanding it very quickly," Gottlieb said of the evidence. Prosecutors declined to comment Friday.
Karsan, 50, worked for 10 years as a driver for Ono, 73, the widow of former Beatle John Lennon. He was arrested last week for allegedly threatening to release embarrassing material about Ono, and possibly have her killed unless she gave him $2 million. Karsan also threatened Ono's son, Sean Lennon, 31, and Ono's friends, according to investigators.
On Tuesday, Judge Michael Anbrecht in Manhattan State Supreme Court ruled that Karsan be held without bail, saying Karsan's ties to his native Turkey made him a flight risk. Karsan's friends had raised $250,000 to help him. Federal immigration officials are also investigating whether Karsan is in the United States legally.
Gottlieb insists his client is here legally.
Karsan had digital images at his home of every piece of art and window at Ono's house, prosecutors said. Assistant District Attorney Anne Schwartz said Karsan "has been plotting and planning to commit some sort of crime against the victim.
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Gottlieb said Karsan was devoted to Ono and kept the digital images to help Ono in case she needed them for insurance purposes. Gottlieb said Ono had sought to force Karsan to do immoral and illegal acts.
BY EMI ENDO
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