By Adam Cooper, Crain News Service
DETROIT (May 15, 2013) — Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone has been charged in Germany in relation to the Gerhard Gribkowsky bribe affair, according to a report in the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The newspaper said that Mr. Ecclestone, who heads Formula One World Championship Ltd., is being charged by the Munich District Court with "bribing a public official" and "abetting breach of fiduciary duty."
Mr. Gribkowsky, a former banker, was sentenced to eight and half years in prison for taking $44 million.
Mr. Ecclestone admitting paying Mr. Gribkowsky, but the Formula One boss maintained in court that it was to stop the German from causing trouble for him with United Kingdom tax authorities.
Mr. Ecclestone said that he had nothing to hide, but that a tax investigation would have been costly and inconvenient.
This report appeared on the website of Autoweek magazine, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.