Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone comes time being around a multi-million dollar compensation payment: Although a London court certified him venality – the media group Constantin but its damage can not prove.

The London High Court dismissed an action for damages against Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. The media group Constantin had the 83-year-old accused the former BayernLB banker Gerhard Gribkowsky bribed. Thus, the Formula 1 rights had been sold too cheaply to the financial investor CVC, Constantin had escaped a high profit. Therefore, the company wanted a compensation of 124 million euros.

The judge Guy Newey said in his ruling that there had indeed acted to bribery and a “corrupt agreement” between Ecclestone and Gribkowsky. Ecclestone also he described as “not reliable or trustworthy”. The compensation payments could Constantin still not sue – because the company could not prove that “corruption pact has performed with Mr. Gribkowsky to losses in Constantin”.

Bernie Ecclestone had claimed that he had paid Gribkowsky the millions, because the latter had threatened him to portray him as a tax evader. “Constantin Medien will pursue its claims on and appeal,” it said in a press release from the company.

Ecclestone stands in the matter in Munich nor a procedure for incitement to breach of trust and bribery before. The criminal trial will start on 24 April.

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