Ecclestone bribery case dropped after $100m settlement
A German court has dropped the bribery case against Bernie Ecclestone in exchange for a US $100m payment from the Formula One chief.
Judge Peter Noll told the Munich state court today that Ecclestone’s trial was finished, news agency dpa reported.
He had faced charges of bribery and incitement to breach of trust.
The charges involved a US $44m payment to banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, who is serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for taking the money and was convicted of offences including tax evasion.
The 83-year-old Ecclestone denied wrongdoing and said Gribkowsky blackmailed him.
Ecclestone’s lawyers last week called for proceedings to be dropped. They agreed on a $100m payment in talks with prosecutors.
