Two and a half years in prison – that is the verdict for Germany’s former tennis star Boris Becker after several bankruptcy crimes. In his home country, he is still popular.
Tennis legend Boris Becker receives a lot of sympathy after being sentenced to prison. “I’m sorry for Boris,” said former football manager Reiner Calmund in BILD. “Boris survived the toughest matches. I wish him that he also masters this time. “The German Tennis Association (DTB) wants to continue to stand by the three-time Wimbledon winner: “We take note of the judgment with respect and regret and wish him all the best for the near future.” said Association President Dietloff von Arnim on Friday in Munich. “We stand by his side.”
Becker had previously been sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a London court for several bankruptcy offences. The 54-year-old must serve half of that before being allowed to spend the rest on parole, Southwark Crown Court Judge Deborah Taylor ruled. Becker was immediately taken into custody on Friday. He now has 28 days to appeal the verdict.
Becker’s wife Lilly Becker, who lives separately from him, was surprised by the harshness of the verdict: “He didn’t kill anybody [Er hat niemanden umgebracht]”She said “Exclusive Weekend” on RTL (interview broadcast on Saturday from 5.45 p.m.). Looking at Becker’s patchwork family, Lilly, who was in a relationship with Boris Becker until the 2018 split, said: “It’s important that each person knows that we, Amadeus, Noah, Elias, Barbara, his girlfriend Liliana, we all stand behind Boris.”
“Boris Becker was everyone’s idol,” said fashion designer Harald Glööckler of BILD. “Regardless of whether you could do something with tennis or not, you dealt with it. He was literally lifted into the sky – and now the crash into infinity.” TV presenter Verona Pooth also wished Becker a lot of strength.
“Boris Becker has been an integral part of the German tennis family for decades. His merits are and will remain unique,” said DTB President von Arnim. Becker has done great things nationally and internationally in tennis. “Most recently he supported the German Tennis Association as Head of Men’s Tennis in the competitive and youth sports sector and proved to be a great enrichment and sponsor of our sport during this time.”
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German tennis player Oscar Otte, who reached the semi-finals at the ATP tournament in Munich on Friday, said Becker’s conviction was a pity and sad – “because it’s the tennis legend in Germany and he made tennis Germany tennis Germany with.” his performance”. The German tennis player Alexander Zverev said “t-online” in Munich: “Boris was and is very important for German tennis. That’s sad to hear. I wish him the best.”
Becker, who lives in London, was declared bankrupt by the court in 2017. He then had to disclose his assets to the insolvency administrators – but according to the court, he left out important parts.
A jury found the German guilty of 4 out of 24 charges three weeks ago. The lay judges found that Becker concealed a property in his hometown of Leimen (Baden-Württemberg) valued at around 1.2 million euros, illegally transferred a total of 427,000 euros to other accounts and shares in an artificial intelligence company worth 78,600 euros and a loan debt of 825,000 euros. Now Judge Taylor had the floor and set the prison sentence.
Baden-Württemberg’s Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz (Greens) wrote on Twitter about the Boris Becker case: “Right and consistent under the rule of law”. At the same time he added: “A tragedy in terms of sports history”.
As at every meeting, Becker appeared on Friday accompanied by his partner Lilian De Carvalho Monteiro; the couple held hands as they walked past scores of photographers and cameramen into court. Becker’s eldest son Noah carried a packed travel bag, which was placed with Becker in the glass case in which the accused had to stay.
Becker’s daughter Anna Ermakova was stunned after the verdict in an interview with BILD. “I’m really in shock that my father has been sentenced to two years and six months,” she said. “I will support him and I will visit him whenever I can. I hope that will help a bit to get through the time.”
dpa