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F1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone Appears In German Court Over Bribery Charges (PHOTOS)

LOOK: Ecclestone In Court Over Bribery Charges
The Huffington Post UK
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Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has appeared in court in Germany for the start of his trial on bribery charges.

Eighty-three-year-old Ecclestone is accused of giving a €33m bribe to a German banker, Gerhard Gribkowsky, to ensure a stake in the F1 business was given to a preferred company. The F1 CEO admits paying the money but denies it was wrong. Gribkowsky is currently serving a jail sentence for receiving the payment.

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Bernie Ecclestone (second from left) faces a possible 10-year prison sentence if convicted

Earlier this year, Ecclestone won a high court battle in London against a German media company in a case related to these payments.

In spite of that success, he was forced to step down as director of F1 parent company Delta Topco although he maintained the day-to-day running of the sport and has been dismissive of the accusations against him as the trial has neared. In January he told journalists that the claims were "complete nonsense", adding that "Everybody on the board is more than a million per cent supportive. They just want me to get on with doing what I always do.

"The minute the court case is over then I'll be back on the board again."

Story continues after slideshow

Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(01 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (2nd-R), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Sven Thomas (R), Andreas Weitzell (L) and Norbert Scharf (C) and a translator wait for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(02 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Bernie Ecclestone (4th-L), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Sven Thomas (2nd-L), Andreas Weitzell (2nd-L) and Norbert Scharf (5th-L) arrive for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(03 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (4th-L), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Sven Thomas (2nd-L), Andreas Weitzell (2nd-L) and Norbert Scharf (5th-L) arrive for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-TRIAL-AUTO-PRIX-CRIME-CORRUPTION-BANKING-PEOPLE(04 of24)
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ALTERNATIVE CROP - Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone arrives for the opening of his trial at court in Munich, southern Germany, on April 24, 2014. Ecclestone went on trial accused of bribery in a case which threatens a jail term for the Briton. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(05 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (R), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Andreas Weitzell (L) and Norbert Scharf (C) and a translator wait for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(06 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (C), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Sven Thomas (R), Andreas Weitzell (2nd-R) and Norbert Scharf (2nd-L) wait for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(07 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone, the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, waits for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
GERMANY-TRIAL-AUTO-PRIX-CRIME-CORRUPTION-BANKING-PEOPLE(08 of24)
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Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone (L) arrives for the opening of his trial at court in Munich, southern Germany, on April 24, 2014. Ecclestone went on trial accused of bribery in a case which threatens a jail term for the Briton. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(09 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (R), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Andreas Weitzell (L) and Norbert Scharf (C) and a translator wait for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(10 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: (EDITORS NOTE: Retransmission with alternate crop.) Bernie Ecclestone (4th-L), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Sven Thomas (2nd-L), Andreas Weitzell (2nd-L) and Norbert Scharf (5th-L) arrive for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(11 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (3rd-L), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Sven Thomas (2nd-R), Andreas Weitzell (R) and Norbert Scharf (2nd-L) wait for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(12 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (C), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, his lawyer Norbert Scharf (R) and a translator wait for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(13 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone, the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, waits for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(14 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone, the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, arrives for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(15 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (Hands Detail), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, waits for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany (in front og him is a paper which he carried during he arrived at court). Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(16 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone, the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, waits for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(17 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (2nd-R), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Sven Thomas (R), Andreas Weitzell (L) and Norbert Scharf (C) and a translator wait for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(18 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (2R), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Sven Thomas (R-L), Norbert Scharf and Andreas Weitzell and a translator wait for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(19 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (R), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Andreas Weitzell (L) and Norbert Scharf (C) and a translator wait for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(20 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (4L), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyers Sven Thomas (2L), Andreas Weitzell (2nd-L) and Norbert Scharf (5L) arrive for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(21 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Media stand in front of the regional court waiting for Bernie Ecclestone, the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, to arrive to stand trial on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Lennart Preiss/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(22 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (Hands Detail), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, waits for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany (in front og him is a paper which he carried during he arrived at court). Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(23 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (C), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, and his lawyer Norbert Scharf (R) arrive the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bernie Ecclestone Trial Starts In Munich(24 of24)
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MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 24: Bernie Ecclestone (C), the 83-year-old controlling business magnate in Formula One racing, his lawyer Norbert Scharf (R) and a translator wait for the first day of his trial for bribery on April 24, 2014 in Munich, Germany. Ecclestone is accused of bribing BayernLB bank employee Gerhard Gribkowsky to ensure the sale of SLEC Holdings, the parent company of Formula One, to private equity firm CVC. (Photo by Joerg Koch/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Ecclestone has previously claimed he was being "shaken down" by Gribkowsky, who was at the time employed as the chief risk officer at Bayern LB, the German bank overseeing the sale.

Gribkowsky was imprisoned in June 2012 for eight and a half years after being found guilty of breach of trust, tax evasion and receipt of corrupt payments.

Prosecutors in Gribkowsky's trial claimed he sold the stake without updating its valuation in return for bribes disguised as consulting contracts.

Ecclestone has admitted making the payment to Gribkowsky, but claims he did so because he had been threatened with blackmail.

Addressing the claims, Ecclestone said: "I know I'm not guilty. That's for sure. Now whether I get convicted is another story.

"But all the (English) lawyers say this (going to trial) should never, ever have happened, and the German lawyers are saying the same thing, that there is no case."

A bullish Ecclestone also said in February that the case would not even come to court but that claim has now been proved wrong.

Ecclestone has run F1 for nearly decades, transforming the sport into a global commercial success with grands prix held on five continents.

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