The trial in London against Boris Becker is to run for around three weeks. Every day, new details of the indictment come to light. This was also the case on Tuesday.
Boris Becker, who is on trial in London, used his business bank account as a “piggy bank” for expensive shopping trips and school fees, according to prosecutors. Despite his financial problems, Becker spent many hundreds of pounds at London luxury department stores’ Harrods and treated himself to designer clothes, prosecutor Rebecca Chalkley told jurors on Tuesday. The 54-year-old has been on trial since Monday for bankruptcy fraud.
The prosecution accuses Becker of misappropriating assets and failing to comply with information obligations in insolvency proceedings in his adopted country of Great Britain. He faces up to seven years in prison. A bankruptcy court in London had declared the three-time Wimbledon winner insolvent in June 2017 due to unpaid debts. His outstanding debts were estimated at up to 50 million pounds (59 million euros) at the time.
In 24 counts, Becker is now accused of withholding several trophies in the insolvency proceedings, including the trophy for his first Wimbledon victory in 1985. He is also alleged to have concealed real estate, shares and bank balances and transferred large sums to accounts belonging to his ex-wives Barbara and Lilly Becker, among others.
Becker’s special “piggy bank “
Among other things, Becker is alleged to have concealed income amounting to 1.13 million euros from the sale of a Mercedes car dealership in Germany, which was transferred to a company account. Becker had used this account as a supplement to his own account, “in fact as his own piggy bank, for everyday expenses such as school fees for the children and the like”, said prosecutor Chalkley.
According to her, the account was used to pay bills of £643 from the Polo Ralph Lauren fashion house, £7,600 for school fees and £976 for purchases at luxury department stores’ Harrods in 2017. In addition, 300,000 euros were allegedly transferred to his own account. Further sums went into an account belonging to Becker and his son Noah.
Trial expected to last three weeks
The former tennis star denies the charges against him. The trial is expected to last three weeks. Becker appeared in court accompanied by his partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro.
During his active sports career, Becker won 49 titles and collected prize money of more than 20 million euros. His first Wimbledon victory in 1985 at the age of 17 is unforgettable. He became the youngest singles winner of the most prestigious tournament.
