Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone will go on trial on bribery charges in Germany, probably in late April, a court said yesterday.
The Munich state court said it decided to send the 83-year-old Ecclestone to trial following his indictment last May. He faces charges of bribery and incitement to breach of trust connected with a US$45 million payment to a German banker, Gerhard Gribkowsky.
Dates for the trial have not been set, but proceedings are currently expected to start at the end of April, a court statement said.
Sentences in Germany for bribery range from three months to 10 years in prison.
Ecclestone's German lawyers, Sven Thomas and Norbert Scharf, said: "The alleged bribery did not happen. The accusations in the indictment based on Gribkowsky's statement are unfounded and do not … add up to a coherent picture."
Gribkowsky was convicted in 2012 of taking the payment from Ecclestone in connection with the sale of a stake in F1.
He was found guilty of corruption, tax evasion and breach of trust, and sentenced to 81/2 years in prison.
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1407215/formula-one-boss-ecclestone-stand-trial-germany-bribery-charges
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1407215/formula-one-boss-ecclestone-stand-trial-germany-bribery-charges
Bernie’s dirty. Look, this is my shocked face.
Haas interested in Formula 1 team: NASCAR Sprint Cup car owner Gene Haas has applied to own a Formula 1 team, Stewart-Haas Racing confirmed Thursday. A report on the German website auto motor und sport reported that Haas is one of three new applicants to field a Formula 1 team as soon as 2015. “We have responded to the FIA’s ‘call for expression of interest’ regarding a Formula One entry on behalf of Haas Racing Development,’’ co-owner Gene Haas said in a statement. “We respect the FIA’s evaluation process and will share more details in the coming weeks.” Haas is founder of Haas Automation, the largest CNC machine tool builder in the western world. The FIA issued its “call for expression of interest’’ in November. It’s a new selection process to identify a new team to compete in Formula 1 at the start of the 2015 or ‘16 season. Applicants had to file paperwork and submit an administrative fee of $5,000. Responses were due Jan. 3. The German website reported that Haas’ plans are to design a car in-house but to have it initially designed by Dallara. Ferrari would be the engine partner. Former Red Bull team manager Guenther Steiner would oversee the team.(Motor Racing Network)(1-16-2014)