Prosecutors: Boris Becker Tried to Conceal Tennis Trophies

Wimbledon champ is on trial, said to have 'acted dishonestly' in hiding assets during bankruptcy
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 22, 2022 9:20 AM CDT
Prosecutors: Tennis Star 'Acted Dishonestly,' Hid Trophies
Former Wimbledon tennis champion Boris Becker waits in line to get into Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday. Becker is in court accused of failing to hand over trophies from his glittering tennis career to settle debts, relating to charges over his bankruptcy.   (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Former tennis champion Boris Becker went on trial Monday in London for allegedly concealing property—including nine trophies—from bankruptcy trustees and dodging his obligation to disclose financial information to settle his debts. Prosecutors said Becker, 54, "acted dishonestly" when he hid or failed to hand over assets before and after he was declared bankrupt in June 2017, per the AP. He's on trial charged with 24 counts under insolvency laws.

Prosecutor Rebecca Chalkley said the assets include trophies such as the 1985 and 1989 Wimbledon men's singles title, his Australian Open trophies from 1991 and 1996, and his 1992 Olympic gold medal. Becker is accused of concealing $1.25 million from the sale of a Mercedes car dealership he owned in Germany. He also allegedly failed to declare two German properties and hid a $900,000 bank loan.

"It is the [prosecution's] case ... that in various ways he effectively hid from, or made unavailable to, those responsible for identifying the assets," Chalkley said. Becker sat in the defendant's dock Monday next to a German translator. The former world No. 1 and six-time Grand Slam champion collected 49 singles titles out of 77 finals during his 16 years as a professional tennis player. The trial is expected to last for several weeks. Becker, who's out on bail, denies all charges.

(More Boris Becker stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X