Former Formula 1 godfather Bernie Ecclestone is once again in trouble with the judiciary.
In England, the controversial manager is accused of fraud, according to which he is said to have concealed assets of over 400 million pounds (around 473 million euros) from the British tax authority.
The case is due to be heard for the first time on August 22 in London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court. It is still unclear whether Ecclestone has to be present at the appointment in person.
“We can confirm that a misrepresentation fraud charge has been admitted against Bernard Ecclestone,” said Simon York of the IRS. “This is the outcome of a complex and global criminal investigation by the Fraud Investigations Division.”
The authority is “on the side of the honest taxpayers, and we will take tough action wherever we suspect tax fraud. Our message is clear: nobody is unreachable for us.”
Ecclestone not the first time in court
Prosecutor Andrew Penhale recalled that Ecclestone has a “right to a fair trial”: “It is extremely important that no reports, comments or information are published on the Internet that could in any way affect this trial.”
Ecclestone, who made a billion dollar spectacle with controversial methods from Formula 1, was in court in Munich almost ten years ago.
In July 2013, prosecutors brought charges of bribery and incitement to breach of trust in a particularly serious case involving the sale of Formula 1 shares.
The trial was dropped in August 2014 for a $100 million fine. Ecclestone’s personal wealth was last estimated at around £2.5 billion.