Bernie Ecclestone Under Threat of Arrest in Germany

Formula 1 figurehead Bernie Ecclestone is under threat from German prosecutors from the state of Bavaria and could possibly be arrested during this weekend's German Grand Prix. So far, Ecclestone has kept a low profile during the race weekend. 

Allegedly, Ecclestone paid a German banker a $56 million bribe to sell the BayernLB bank's share in Formula 1 to CVC Capital Partners that owns a large share of the sport. Ecclestone does not deny paying banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, but he says that it was not a bribe. Ecclestone claims that Gribkowsky was blackmailing him. 

Gribkowsky was convicted at the end of June and will serve 8 and a half years in prison. According to several German newspapers, Bavarian prosecutors have been questioning Gribkowsky to get more details about Ecclestone's alleged bribe. 

The German State Prosecutor is considering filing bribery charges and an extradition request against Ecclestone. He could face up to 10 years in prison. The German state says that it has been investigating Ecclestone since 2011, but it will not file any charges until the Gribkowsky trial is over. The problem facing the prosecution against Ecclestone is proving the veracity of Gribkowsky accusations. 

Ecclestone told the Hamburger Abendblatt that he would be at Hockenheim on Saturday but claims that he has nothing to do with the case. 

If the prosecutors feel that they have enough of a case. It is possible that Ecclestone could be arrested during the race.

Bernie Ecclestone Could Face Bribery Charges and Jail Time

Bernie Ecclestone Paid Bribes During F1 Sale, According to German Banker

Source: Deutsche Welle and World Car Fans