BERLIN (AP) — Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is to take the stand in a German court in the trial of a former bank executive charged with accepting bribes in connection with the 2006 sale of BayernLB’s stake in the racing series.
Ecclestone was scheduled to testify in a Munich state court Wednesday in the trial of Gerhard Gribkowsky, a former management board member at public-sector bank BayernLB.
Gribkowsky faces charges of taking $44 million in payments from Ecclestone. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Ecclestone’s court appearance was delayed after the defense submitted a petition of alleged bias against the panel of three judges.
Ecclestone has not been charged in the case. He has expressed confidence that he will be exonerated of any wrongdoing.
