Boris Becker in court: “Been busy traveling the world and playing tennis”

Boris Becker in court
Bum bum blue-eyed: ‘I’ve been busy traveling the world and playing tennis’

It’s a stressful, turbulent life that Boris Becker led for a long time. How many accounts does the former tennis star own, where property was held in his name and where the trophies he won are stored? Becker has no idea about that, as he states several times. On Tuesday, the 54-year-old had another opportunity to comment in detail on the allegations before Southwark Crown Court in London. In a firm voice, but visibly nervous and tense, Becker often replies “That’s correct” to what his lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw said. “That’s not correct,” he replies to prosecutor Rebecca Chalkley.

When did Becker know about his bankruptcy?

The prosecutor Becker absolutely does not want to believe that he did not see his bankruptcy coming. As early as 2015, the former Wimbledon winner was aware that he was bankrupt, Chalkley said, citing a letter to the 54-year-old in which a bank was demanding millions of euros back. Becker replies that he gets a lot of mail and hasn’t read the letter.

It’s a lot for him. Once a celebrated Wimbledon champion and tennis prodigy, affairs and financial scandals have scratched his image. It often seems as if Becker is much more respected in his adopted country Great Britain, where he is popular as an expert for tennis broadcasts, than in Germany. Now, of all places, he is being tried in London, where he has lived for years.

The indictment accuses the Leimener of not having disclosed assets during his insolvency. Among them are several tennis trophies and awards, but also real estate and accounts. The indictment consists of 24 counts. Theoretically, Becker could face up to seven years in prison. Already on Monday he had emphasized that financial questions were always left to his advisors and that he had not read any contracts. Becker earned a total of a good 25 million US dollars in prize money in his career from 1984 to 1999. Nothing is left. In 2017, a court in London declared him bankrupt. That’s still the case, Becker emphasized.

Did Becker buy his daughter an apartment?

In a dark blue suit and white shirt, the 54-year-old followed his lawyer’s instructions with great concentration. Again and again he took a sip from a water bottle, sometimes he tugged at his collar. File folders lay on the floor next to him, in which he occasionally consulted documents. His partner Lilian De Carvalho Monteiro sat diagonally behind him. Private questions are also raised in the process – among other things, it is about whether Becker bought his daughter Anna Ermakowa an apartment.

On Tuesday it was about his parents’ house in Leimen, where Becker was registered as the owner – without his knowledge, as he claims. Other properties were also mentioned, according to the star athlete, he was also not sure about the ownership structure. A similar picture emerges for accounts. That his parents opened an account in his name in 1989? “I’ve been busy traveling the world and playing tennis,” said Becker. He doesn’t know why he had three US bank accounts in Belgium. They were probably opened as part of an advertising partnership.

Insolvency administrator Mark Ford would also like to have several awards from Becker. The tennis star withdraws the trophies from access, accuses him of the indictment. Becker denies that. He just doesn’t know where the trophies are. In general, it’s not about the originals that he was handed on the pitch after the final. Agents or supervisors usually received a much smaller replica version, Becker said. He himself was already on his way to the next tournament. “The trophies themselves were not important to me,” he said. For him, the title itself was more important. Now he regrets this view. If he finds the trophies again, he will hand them over immediately, he assured.

The public prosecutor wants to question Becker further this Wednesday. A jury then decides on the result. A decision is expected in the coming week.

nik
DPA