Pay bills yourself, read contracts and keep track of your bank accounts. Boris Becker (54) knows only from hearsay what it is, of course, to the average consumer. The former tennis star stuns on day five of his trial with major knowledge gaps.
The German has neither the time nor the patience to read contracts. The accused admits that “unfortunately” this is still the case today. He also lost track of his bank accounts. “I didn’t know how many accounts I had,” Becker, who lives in London, explains in the courtroom. Everything related to finance is the responsibility of his advisor.
What is Baker’s plan?
During the hour-long hearing, the three-time Wimbledon winner was a few words. When he speaks, it is in English. Most of the time, his attorney, Jonathan Laidlaw, does the talking. Baker confirms his legal counsel’s statements at irregular intervals with: “That’s right.”
Baker said he was “shocked” and “ashamed” when he was declared bankrupt in June 2017. On Monday in a London court, Baker said the British judiciary had declared bankruptcy a few days before Wimbledon, where he would be commenting on the BBC and Australian and Japanese TV channels.
‘I was ashamed that I’m broke’
“As you can imagine, I was shocked. Because it was reported all over the world. I passed the Wimbledon goal and everyone knew it,” the 54-year-old says of declaring bankruptcy in 2017. “I was ashamed because I was broke.” At that time he was also having a “hard time” with his then-wife Lily Baker, as they lived in different areas of their Wimbledon apartment building.
The six-time Grand Slam winner explains that negative reporting of his bankruptcy has hurt the “Baker brand”. As a result, he had difficulty earning enough money to pay off his debts.
Baker denies everything
In one of 24 counts, the three-time Wimbledon winner was charged with attempting to withdraw valuables, money and real estate from the access of the insolvency official. Baker denies everything.
There is a lot of speculation about what exactly his ignorance is supposed to achieve. The assumption is that the jury is presented with a man who may have gotten himself into this situation through negligence but never in bad faith. Baker faces up to seven years in prison. (NAB/AFP)
More on Boris Becker’s operation
“Creator. Troublemaker. Reader. Tv nerd. Proud beer advocate. Unable to type with boxing gloves on. Introvert. Certified zombie practitioner. Thinker.”
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