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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Bernie Ecclestone bribery trial begins in Germany | Bernie Ecclestone bribery trial begins in Germany |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is set to appear at the start of a trial on bribery charges in Munich. | Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is set to appear at the start of a trial on bribery charges in Munich. |
| He is accused of giving a $45m (£27.5m; 33m euros) bribe to a German banker to secure the sale of a stake in the F1 business to a company he favoured. | |
| Mr Ecclestone admits paying Gerhard Gribkowsky, who is serving a jail sentence for receiving the payment, but has denied any wrongdoing. | Mr Ecclestone admits paying Gerhard Gribkowsky, who is serving a jail sentence for receiving the payment, but has denied any wrongdoing. |
| He continues to run the F1 business on a day-to-day basis despite the charges. | He continues to run the F1 business on a day-to-day basis despite the charges. |
| To alleviate his workload, however, Mr Ecclestone has stood down from a number of F1-related positions until the case concludes. | To alleviate his workload, however, Mr Ecclestone has stood down from a number of F1-related positions until the case concludes. |
| 'Breach of trust' | 'Breach of trust' |
| German prosecutors allege that he bribed Mr Gribkowsky, who was on the board of Bayern Landesbank, to ensure that F1 was sold to a private equity group of Mr Ecclestone's choice. | German prosecutors allege that he bribed Mr Gribkowsky, who was on the board of Bayern Landesbank, to ensure that F1 was sold to a private equity group of Mr Ecclestone's choice. |
| The allegation is that by securing the sale of the stake to a company Mr Ecclestone favoured, he would remain in charge of Formula 1 and its commercial rights, broadcast payments and sponsorship deals. | |
| The payments were made between July 2006 and December 2007. | The payments were made between July 2006 and December 2007. |
| He admits paying Gribkowsky, but says he was effectively the victim of blackmail. The 83-year-old Briton has said the banker had been threatening to reveal false details of his tax affairs. | He admits paying Gribkowsky, but says he was effectively the victim of blackmail. The 83-year-old Briton has said the banker had been threatening to reveal false details of his tax affairs. |
| If convicted, Mr Ecclestone - one of Britain's richest men who transformed Formula 1 into a lucrative sport watched by 450 million TV viewers globally - could face up to 10 years in jail. | |
| Gerhard Gribkowsky has been found guilty of corruption, tax evasion and breach of trust and is serving an eight and a half year prison sentence. | Gerhard Gribkowsky has been found guilty of corruption, tax evasion and breach of trust and is serving an eight and a half year prison sentence. |
| In February, Mr Ecclestone won a civil case in London's High Court brought by a German media company, which claimed it lost out financially when the share of F1 belonging to German bank Bayern Landesbank was sold in 2006 to private equity group CVC. | In February, Mr Ecclestone won a civil case in London's High Court brought by a German media company, which claimed it lost out financially when the share of F1 belonging to German bank Bayern Landesbank was sold in 2006 to private equity group CVC. |
| While the judge rejected a damages claim from Constantin Medien against the F1 boss, Mr Ecclestone was ordered to pay $4m in legal fees. | While the judge rejected a damages claim from Constantin Medien against the F1 boss, Mr Ecclestone was ordered to pay $4m in legal fees. |
| The chief executive of Formula 1 has ruled the sport for almost four decades, turning it into a huge global commercial success. | The chief executive of Formula 1 has ruled the sport for almost four decades, turning it into a huge global commercial success. |
| He is the long-time commercial rights holder of F1, but sold off a majority of the ownership in the 1990s. | He is the long-time commercial rights holder of F1, but sold off a majority of the ownership in the 1990s. |