F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was accused of corruption in Germany
The big boss of Formula One, Bernie Ecclestone, has been accused of corruption in Germany.
The Columbia 82 years was the subject of a survey from a German banker had been convicted of accepting a bribe bribe of U.S. $ 44 million of its share in connection with the sale of a participation in the company that manages the Formula 1.
Ecclestone told a Munich court he felt obliged to pay this money in 2006 because he feared that the banker Gerhard Gribkowsky report him to British tax authorities.
The court said in a statement Wednesday, Ecclestone had been accused of corruption and incitement to breach of trust in relation to the management of Gribkowsky interests of BayernLB in F1. It said that the charges were dated May 10 and had since been translated into English and delivered to Ecclestone and his lawyers.
"Counsel accepts the indictment stated Ecclestone Associated Press. This means they must answer to the act, what they will do with emphasis."
Ecclestone said he did not even read the act. According to the court, he has until August to answer it.
"They claim that I bribed someone," he says Ecclestone, insisting that he has "done nothing illegal".
Gribkowsky was mandated to manage the sale of BayernLB interest in F1. In addition to taking money advance Ecclestone Gribkowsky used the funds BayernLB to pay a commission of $ 41.4 million to the boss of F1 and he agrees to pay an additional sum of $ 25 million
has Bambino Trust, a company with which Ecclestone was affiliated, have lead prosecutors during the trial of Gribkowsky.
Ecclestone had then stated to the court that he deserved a commission for the sale, saying it had "the very, very good job."
Gribkowsky, who admitted his guilt for most charges, was sentenced to eight years in prison and a half after he had been convicted last year of bribery, tax evasion and breach of trust.
German lawyers Ecclestone, Sven Thomas and Norbert Scharf, have declared that they will submit soon a "detailed response" to the court, and the central theme of this response will be "'confessions' variables Mr Gribkowsky".
By Rob Harris
