Boris Becker hid hundreds of thousands of pounds in assets after being declared bankrupt.
In a major setback for former German tennis champion Boris Becker, a London court on Friday sentenced him to two years and six months in prison for concealing hundreds of thousands of pounds in assets after being declared bankrupt .
Boris Becker found guilty
Becker was found guilty earlier this month of four counts under UK bankruptcy law, including failing to disclose, conceal and dispose of substantial assets following bankruptcy proceedings. bankruptcy.
The six-time Grand Slam champion, 54, was found guilty of wires money to his ex-wife Barbara and his ex-wife Sharlely following his bankruptcy in 2017.
“He is remarkable that you have shown no remorse or accepted your guilt,” Judge Deborah Taylor told him when she sentenced him to two years and six months in prison at Southwark Crown Court in London. “There was no humility.” She said Becker would serve half of his sentence behind bars and the rest on license.
Becker, whose partner Lillian and son Noah were on trial, stared straight ahead at the verdict. The trial had learned details about Becker’s career and how the former world number one, who won the Wimbledon championship three times, lost his fortune after his retirement.
The jury heard him say he didn’t know the location of some of his trophies, how he took out a high-interest loan from one of Britain’s wealthiest businessmen and attempted to avoid bankruptcy by claiming to enjoy the diplomatic protection of the Central African Republic. Becker “was selective in disclosing his assets. When it suited him, he exposed everything, when it didn’t suit him, he didn’t,” said prosecutor Rebecca Chalkley, who asked the judge to impose a custodial sentence.
She accused Becker of ‘maliciously playing the system’ by concealing and transferring assets, and deprived creditors of more than £2 million ($2.51 million) in assets, none of which have been reimbursed to date.
The former tennis champion was declared bankrupt in connection with a debt to private banker Arbuthnot Latham & Co and under the terms of the bankruptcy order he was required to disclose all of his assets. He was found guilty of failing to declare his property in Germany, concealing a bank loan of 825,000 euros ($870,127.50) and concealing shares in a Canadian technology company.
He had denied all the allegations and said he had cooperated with the bankruptcy proceedings – even offered his wedding ring – and had relied on his advisers. “His reputation, an integral part of the brand that makes him work, is in tatters,” Becker’s attorney Jonathan Laidlaw said. “His downfall is not merely a disgrace, but the most public humiliation.” Becker was cleared of 20 other charges at trial, including charges that he failed to return other assets, including two Wimbledon trophies and an Olympic gold medal. He had previously been convicted of tax evasion in Germany in 2002, for which he received a suspended sentence.
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