A driver who used knowledge of his former employer’s private life to extort 350,000 yuan (US$51,800) has been sentenced to 11 years by Jing’an District People’s Court and fined 110,000 yuan, prosecutors said yesterday.

His accomplice, received four and a half years in jail and a fine of 40,000 yuan.

The victim and his mistress received messages from people pretending to be underworld members on April 20, asking for 500,000 yuan to keep the love affair secret. The victim then transferred 30,000 yuan to the account the blackmailer gave him.

The victim then received messages the next day demanding the remainder of the money and went to the police.

The victim kept in contact with the blackmailer and found the person was very familiar with his private affairs. He recalled that only a few employees, including his driver, knew he had a mistress and gave the information to police.

Officers soon discovered that the cellphone used by the blackmailer had a second SIM card, belonging to the driver, surnamed Wan. Police also traced the cellphone’s owner, a tobacco and wine trader surnamed Wang.

The pair were captured on May 8. The cellphone, a bank card and some cash were seized at the scene. Between April 20 and May 8, the victim transferred some 350,000 yuan to the blackmailer’s account.

The accomplice, Wang, confessed to police.

The driver, Wan, kept silent throughout. Wan’s appeal was rejected by Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court.