Bernie Ecclestone up against the wall

Bernie Ecclestone would be involved in a corruption case concerning the takeover of the F1. Gerhard Gribkowsky, the head of Bayerische Landesbank, one of the banks involved in the transaction, was indicted for corruption, tax fraud and embezzlement. He would have received from the Briton a nice envelope of 44 million dollars.

The F1 financier confirmed to the Daily Telegraph that he had indeed paid the money to the director of the German bank. However, he defends himself by claiming to have been threatened with blackmail by the director suspected in the affair. According to Bernie Ecclestone, Gerhard Gribkowsky threatened to denounce him for tax evasion.

“The British tax authorities were starting a relationship of trust and I really didn't want them to change their mind,” comments Bernie Ecclestone. “(Gerhard Gribkowsky) was threatening me and I didn’t want to risk standing up to him. They told me: “They will investigate you and you will not be able to justify anything. It's going to cost you a fortune, you better pay. » The prosecutor asked me not to say anything on this subject. »