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From GMM
Bernie Ecclestone has been formally charged by German prosecutors for bribery, it emerged on Wednesday.
It has been known since May that the Munich prosecutors decided to indict the F1 chief executive for paying millions to jailed former F1 banker Gerhard Gribkowsky amid the sale of the sport some years ago.
Bloomberg quoted a court spokesman as confirming that although the charges were filed in May, they were only served on Wednesday after being translated into English.
He said more details will be released in a court statement.
Briton Ecclestone, 82, has consistently denied wrongdoing.
He said by telephone on Wednesday: "The lawyers have accepted an indictment.
"It means they have to reply to the indictment which they are strenuously doing," Ecclestone is quoted by the Associated Press.
Ecclestone's German lawyer, and F1 owner CVC, did not comment.
UPDATE
The Munich court will wait until mid-September to decide if the Bernie Ecclestone bribery case will be brought to trial.
The 82-year-old Briton's lawyers said in a statement that they will reply vigorously to the charges, which they say rely heavily on the testimony of jailed German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky.
The court reportedly said a decision about whether to send the charges to trial would probably not be made until mid-September.
A court spokesman confirmed those reports, adding that Ecclestone's defense team has until mid-August to submit a response to the charges.
Bernie Ecclestone has been formally charged by German prosecutors for bribery, it emerged on Wednesday.
It has been known since May that the Munich prosecutors decided to indict the F1 chief executive for paying millions to jailed former F1 banker Gerhard Gribkowsky amid the sale of the sport some years ago.
Bloomberg quoted a court spokesman as confirming that although the charges were filed in May, they were only served on Wednesday after being translated into English.
He said more details will be released in a court statement.
Briton Ecclestone, 82, has consistently denied wrongdoing.
He said by telephone on Wednesday: "The lawyers have accepted an indictment.
"It means they have to reply to the indictment which they are strenuously doing," Ecclestone is quoted by the Associated Press.
Ecclestone's German lawyer, and F1 owner CVC, did not comment.
UPDATE
The Munich court will wait until mid-September to decide if the Bernie Ecclestone bribery case will be brought to trial.
The 82-year-old Briton's lawyers said in a statement that they will reply vigorously to the charges, which they say rely heavily on the testimony of jailed German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky.
The court reportedly said a decision about whether to send the charges to trial would probably not be made until mid-September.
A court spokesman confirmed those reports, adding that Ecclestone's defense team has until mid-August to submit a response to the charges.