Bernie Ecclestone to Learn Bribery Charges Fate Next Year

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone will have to wait until next year to learn if he will stand trial for bribery charges, a Munich court has revealed. 

English-born Ecclestone, was charged in July with bribing a German banker to smooth the sale of a stake in the motor racing business to private equity firm CVC eight years ago.

At the time, the court had said a decision on whether to proceed with a trial was not expected before mid-September. But the decision has been delayed.

Ecclestone’s lawyers have said they plan to submit further extensive statements related to the case, and an imminent staffing change at the court will further delay the matter, the court said in a statement on Friday.

“The counsel of the defendants have announced they will make further submissions that the court should wait for,” the court said in a statement. “Taking that into consideration as well as an imminent change of judge in the relevant chamber, a decision on opening the case can no longer be expected this year.”

The 82-year-old has denied wrongdoing and said he will fight to clear his name. The case could mean a further delay to tentative plans to float Formula One on the stock market in Singapore and will revive speculation about an eventual successor to the man who turned the sport into a major global business.

{jcomments on}