Munich court accepts bribery case against Ecclestone, trial to start in April

Ecclestone scores victory in $650m Bluewaters case - Pitpass.com

 

I think the excerpt from Joe Saward's article ("Ecclestone stands down from F1 board" - January 16, 2014 - Ecclestone stands down from F1 board | joeblogsf1 ) is amusing, especially the last very last sentence:

"The fact that Ecclestone is being allowed to stay on as CEO is an indication of just how short of ideas the private equity firm appears to be, as the decision creates a most irregular arrangement and one wonders how such a strange decision was reached given that Ecclestone will obviously be distracted from his duties because of the legal activity that come with a trial and the question of whether such an arrangement is good for the image of the sport.

However, this halfway house will give CVC Capital Partners the opportunity to have a look around in the next couple of months to try and find a suitable replacement in case Ecclestone is not available after the court case."

Jail time for Bernie!?!?

 

Much too old; we don't jail people over 80 in Europe: they are senile.

(Kidding, of course! or...maybe not: usually they are not sent to jail when over 80; but if there is something that Bernie is definitely not, it is senile; I would have a good laugh should he be excused for being too old!)

 

Can't he appeal any of these rulings for another 10 years while out on bail?

 

This is Germany, not Italy

 

I'm not worried: should he be jailed indeed, he will manage to escape and disappear...he is a man of multiple talents.

Rgds

 

Après Bernie, le deluge.

 

Pitpass' Christian Sylt suggests this morning that Bernie might be able to pay (a rather huge) fine instead of heading to jail.

 

Given what he has made since the incident with 'Grab-the money-owsky' its a pittance

 

Hang on guys!.... 'Big fines', 'jail time'?..... He hasn't been found guilty yet!

We know he's hired at least one of the top law firms in Germany, and I reckon they're going to *trash* the prosecutions star witness, Gribkowsky, who's a convicted felon and is known to lie.....

As I said before, I strongly suspect he's going to walk and the prosecutors are left asking themselves 'WTF happened?!'....

But I was wrong once.

Cheers,
Ian

 

I agree fully and a settlement offer is just as good as no jail time. The debate about the morality of paying Grabby money owsky will be put to rest and he will stay in jail for being the greedy convicted fool. Remember he messed with the German tax system to begin with. I dont see Bernie losing here at all.

The net result might to see Bernie subtly lose his influence over the sport as this issue proceeds and eventually that must happen no matter.

 

True, but 'knowing' him, I'm not even sure he'll make a settlement offer!..... Unless it all starts to go pear shaped once the trial starts. Apparently, he can make the offer at pretty much any time during the trial, not before. (Florian?)

Cheers,
Ian

 

Ive read the press about this today. No situation for an offer is on the table from the Bavarian authorities but evidently this is potentially possible. Its a win win for Bernie if he can pay some amount and walk or he beats the case which I feel he will in the end.

 

As I've previously posted though, the presiding Judge in this case has already pretty much declared that Bernie is Guilty when he presided over the Gribkowsky case, so Bernie's going to be hard pushed to get a Not-Guilty result! (hence My previous query as to whether he can actually get a fair trial with the selected Judge!).

And We're still waiting for the judgement from his UK trial!


Also, if it turns out that he can simply pay-off the German courts to make this whole thing go away, then how hypocritical are the German courts?:

"Pay Millions to Gribkowsky to make a situation go away and it's illegal!"
"Pay Millions to the German Courts to make a situation go away and it's all legal and fine!"

In reality, where's the difference?

 

Florian did Gribowsky have the authority to sign for the Bank on those paragraphs or contracts. If so the Bank is contractually obligated and would have a problem dis-avowing those?? Will be interesting in court.

 

I obviously have no idea, but *suspect* that as 'chief risk guy' (or whatever his title was), I would assume so..... Maybe the prosecutors will come after the bank itself next!

Now that would be funny!.... The Bavarian government basically coming after their own Bavarian bank!

Cheers,
Ian

 

We live in a strange evolving world and this situation you suggest would not shock me at all!!

 

The number suggested was 240 million£.

If that's a pittance to you, my respect.

 

+1

Mind me asking where you got that number?

The stories I've read claim he has to ask for it to be settled that way after the trial begins. Then the judge & prosecutors have to agree(?), and the whole mess goes away.

No idea how true that may be, but anything like that # would probably serve the good folk of Bavaria pretty well!..... (they could go & buy the 'Ring! )

Cheers,
Ian

 

Was sarcasm

 

The Sylt piece in Pipass.

I recommend it.

 

Too bad.
I was ready to hit you up for a loan.

 

Dayum!.... Thought I'd already read that one, sorry!

Thinking about it, that may very well be about the # he's made since CVC left him in charge though! No doubt some has been paid out too, but sounds almost 'reasonable' in his world!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Ahh! Seems I read page one but omitted to hit 'next'!

Oops!

Cheers,
Ian