Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Yoko Ono's Driver Free on Bail, Claims He Is Innocent


By

Jen Chung

Published Dec 16, 2006

Modified Mar 7, 2008


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Jen Chung

Published Dec 16, 2006

Modified Mar 7, 2008


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

2006_12_ono2.jpgThe man accused of extorting his employer, Yoko Ono, for $2 million managed to raise money for his $250,000 bail, but is still in jail. Friends of Koral Karsan, who the Manhattan DA's office says threatened the lives of Ono and her son Sean Lennon as well as reveal Ono's personal details, put up the money, but the prosecutors are reviewing where the money comes from. While Karsan's lawyer says the money is from friends who are not criminals, the DA's office had made a point of noting that Karsan, who allegedly told Ono he was moving to Turkey, was an "extraordinary flight risk."

In an exclusive jailhouse interview with the Daily News, Karsan said he was innocent, "I trusted her to talk without an attorney, and look what happened." But then Karsan allegedly contacted her attorney and made threats again? Alleged extortion is very confusing!

And prosecutors, who said that Karsan had men standing by to kill Ono and Lennon, now say there were no hitmen. The police told the News, "the talk of henchman was just... crazy talk." All of it is crazy!

Yesterday, the Times had a good profile of Ono. And via the Times' Screens blog, you can see her installation art piece from the 1960s, Cut Piece, where audience members cut clothes from her body.

Tagged

art

blogs

daily news

friends

headlines

interview

Koral Karsan

manhattan

manhattan da

money

news

News: NYC

police

sean lennon

turkey

yoko ono


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Early Addition: Winning an affordable housing lottery is great unless it's not

Because the apartment might be very small and not that affordable, here are your early links: Congestion pricing is paying for new subway elevators, G.W. Bridge has a new pedestrian walkway, not so many airplane barf bags and more.

By

James Ramsay

Published Oct 16, 2026 at 9:41 a.m. ET


Mamdani and 100+ NY officials urge parking lot owners to ban ICE

The officials released a letter on Friday that asks the owners of parking lots and garages not to rent, lend or otherwise make their property available to ICE.

By

Arya Sundaram

News

Mamdani and 100+ NY officials urge parking lot owners to ban ICE

The officials released a letter on Friday that asks the owners of parking lots and garages not to rent, lend or otherwise make their property available to ICE.

By

Arya Sundaram


NYC ambulance response times have grown 41% as life-threatening calls rise

By

Ben Feuerherd

Federal judge tosses Trump administration lawsuit challenging NYC sanctuary laws

By

Phil Corso

2 men charged in fatal fentanyl poisoning of NYC college student, alleged rape

By

Giulia Heyward


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .