Yoko Ono's driver Koral Karsan, currently imprisoned pending trial over those allegations that he attempted to extort money from his employer by the use of blackmail and death threats, has made a fourth attempt to be granted bail. In court on Tuesday, his lawyer, Robert Gottlieb, filed a letter which, he claimed, reveals that Karsan did not threaten Ono in an attempt to gain money, rather asked for recompense for years of alleged harassment and abuse.
In the missive, dated Dec 06, Karsan tells Ono that he has decided to file a sexual harassment lawsuit against her, but would settle with her outside of court if she agreed to pay him $2million. He goes on to say that if she does not settle with him, he will be forced to release information and material that "quite frankly will astound the world" - including statements about The Beatles, the US and UK governments and recordings of son Sean Lennon. Referring to those recordings, Karsan writes: "Depending on the outcome of our dealings, I will not only write about these recordings but will also distribute them to European broadcasting stations throughout the future".
Gottlieb claims that Ono's accusation of grand larceny was made to counter his sexual harassment allegations, and maintains that Ono put pressure on her driver to commit "immoral and illegal acts". But Assistant DA Anne Schwartz has objected to the bail request, saying that the case against Karsan is strong. He could face as many as fifteen years in prison if convicted. The bail application will be argued in New York today.