Police arrest man trying to extort former Bayern president Hoeness

Police arrest man trying to extort former Bayern president Hoeness

Published May. 13, 2014 7:45 a.m. ET

BERLIN (AP) Bavarian police say they've arrested a 50-year-old man suspected of attempting to extort former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, who was convicted in March of tax evasion, for thousands of euros (dollars).

Police said in a statement Tuesday that the Munich man, whose name was not released, threatened Hoeness in a May 10 letter with ''huge difficulties'' once he soon starts his 3 1/2 year prison sentence if he did not pay a ''six-figure sum.''

Hoeness turned the letter over to police and the suspect was arrested the same day at an arranged money drop.

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Police say he crashed his bicycle as he attempted to flee and was hospitalized but is now in pre-trial custody.

Hoeness, one of German football's most prominent figures, resigned March 14 following his conviction.

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