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

Yep. Have the FIA to thank for that.

 

A poor man wouldn't be able to buy his way out of this mess.



Of course a poor man wouldn't have been able to buy his way into it either.

 

It's a rather severe indictment against the German justice system, if you can get away from judgement by way of an enormous bribe.

 

Turns out bribery is a rich man's sport.

 

As is F1.

"The rich are different from you and I"
F. Scott Fitzgerald

"Yes. They have money"
Ernest Hemingway.

 

Actually, more correctly, we have the big teams to thank for that. The FIA simply implements what they want.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

Actually, I think it says the German system may just have a little common sense in it.

Rather than continuing to fight what was beginning to look like a lost cause for them and winding up with nothing, seems they decided to compromise, and get some serious money back.

Hopefully, Florian will be along soon with the local take on it..... I said for a long time I thought he'd walk and the good folk of Bavaria would be left asking "wtf happened here?".... 100MM to cover the incompetence, stupidity & greed of their elected (& appointed?) officials should ease the pain some.

Cheers,
Ian

 

+1

It is a good and pragmatic deal for the German government. Bernie's defense wasn't on shaky ground.

 

Bernie's said to be worth three plus billion and paid one hundred million.
Leaving him more money that he has time to spend.
Sounds like a bargin.

 

Nobody ever accused him of being stupid.....

Plus, the girls will get their pocket money allowance restored....

Cheers,
Ian

 

Lets all do an excerise.
100 mil is to 3 billion as what is to our own net worths?

 

$27, in my case......

 

Actually, more correctly, we have Renault to thank for the small capacity turbo engines and Ferrari to thank for ensuring that they are at least V6's.

Renault were threatening to leave F1 unless the engine rules were changed to make the engines more relevant to modern road cars. They originally asked for the engines to be 4 cylinder turbo's but that didn't appeal to Ferrari who asked if they could be V6's instead. Renault and Mercedes agreed and the rest, as they say, is history!


As for Bernie, I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed! - I can't believe he hasn't secured his freedom and got the German Government to pay him for the privilege!

He must be slipping in his old age!

 

Surprised you have that much liquidity owning an old Ferrari!

 

Maybe.

I read a good article about British tax evaders where of course he figures prominently. It states that his deal with Slavica and CVC is that she owns it and in return pays him a reverse alimony of, get this: 100 million/year

So he is just out his annual allowance. Better be nice with her now.

 

So Bernie has to go to his ex asking for an advance on his allowance?

 

At least that's what he tells the British tax man.

 

I'd rather pay the taxes.

 

I guess so!

The report also cited the judge as asking him to pay it within 7 days IIRC. "No problem" was his response!

I've known some truly wealthy people over the years, but I'm pretty sure not one of them could raise that kind of cash in that timeframe.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

He probably had notice in advance.

 

Spoilsport!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Man it must feel awesome to say that!

 

Yeah, really! Hadn't even thought of it that way.

Outside of a few of our Arab friends, and maybe a handful in the old USSR "orbit", I wonder how many folk there are worldwide that could actually truly say that?

Cheers,
Ian

 

You couldn't make this s**t up.

If it were to happen to a mere-mortal, nobody would believe your tall tale.

 

I have a couple of extremely rich Indian friends (private jets, fighting over who gets to pay the 100K bill this time etc), but even they would turn white if they'd been told to pay a 100m I'd suspect.