Ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, 92, arrives at court accused of failing to declare £400MILLION in overseas assets
FORMER Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has arrived at court accused of failing to declare £400million of overseas assets.
The billionaire, 92, was charged following a “complex and worldwide” probe by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) into his finances.
He is charged with fraud by false representation between 13 July 2013 and 5 October 2016.
The business magnate allegedly failed to declare a trust in Singapore containing around $650million.
Silver-haired Ecclestone arrived at Southwark Crown Court this morning wearing a leather jacket with fur collar.
A provisional trial date is set for October 9 next year but no formal plea has been entered.
The court may sit half days because of the “defendant’s fitness to participate”.
Ecclestone is accused of disclosing “only a single trust” – one in favour of his daughters – to tax authorities.
He also said he was not the beneficiary of any other trust in or outside the UK, it is said.
By doing so, he allegedly acted “with the intention of making a gain for yourself”.
The tycoon, who has three grown-up daughters – Deborah, 68, Tamara, 38, and Petra, 34 – and a young son, Ace, was F1 chief for four decades from the 1970s.
He was removed from the position in January 2017.