Ecclestone’s lawyers meet prosecutors in bid to settle trial
MUNICH — Lawyers for Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone held talks with German prosecutors on Tuesday to try to settle a bribery trial that threatens his grip on the motor sport.Ecclestone went on trial in April in Munich over claims that he bribed a former German banker as part of the sale of a major stake in the motor sport business eight years ago.If convicted, the 83-year-old British billionaire could face up to 10 years in jail and would have to cede control of a business he has built up over the past four decades."Public prosecutors and the defence are discussing the possibility of an agreement," a spokesman for the German authorities said.Media reports said Ecclestone, who denies wrongdoing, on Tuesday offered to pay German state-owned bank BayernLB €25m to help settle the case. There was no immediate comment from his defence team.Prosecutors have rejected a request from the defence to drop proceedings on the grounds of a lack of evidence.Under German law, a settlement paymen...
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