Former tennis star Boris Becker has been making headlines for a long time. But his sentence to two and a half years in Britain was a bang, even by his standards. Now he is free again, as his lawyer Christian-Oliver Moser confirmed on Thursday. The most important questions and answers:
Why was Becker in prison?
After the former tennis ace was declared bankrupt by a British court in 2017, a tough process began in which he had to disclose his full assets to pay off his debts. But Becker concealed assets in the millions. That counts as a crime. A trial in London this spring ended with a sentence of two and a half years in prison.
Did he admit his guilt?
In the process itself, Becker had pleaded not guilty. However, he later declined an appeal. “Our client accepts both the verdict of the jury and the sentence imposed by the court,” said Becker’s lawyer Christian-Oliver Moser.
Did his family stand by him?
Becker’s partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro regularly accompanied him to court hearings in London. His eldest son Noah was also present when the verdict was pronounced. His wife Lilly Becker also supported him in an interview.
Did Becker benefit from his fame?
The early release after more than seven months is not a celebrity bonus. Rather, he benefited from a special rule in Great Britain. According to this, foreign prisoners can be considered for an accelerated procedure, in which they are deported up to twelve months before the earliest date of release. The rest of the penalty does not apply. This is intended to ease the pressure on overcrowded British prisons.
Is he a free man now?
In Germany, the three-time Wimbledon winner is no longer threatened with punishment. With his release and subsequent deportation, “he has served his sentence and is not subject to any criminal restrictions in Germany,” emphasized lawyer Moser. Only a return to his former adopted home of Great Britain will be denied him for the foreseeable future – at least until his regular prison term has expired, possibly even longer. But Moser didn’t go into that.
Does that mean the insolvency proceedings are over?
no The UK bankruptcy register, which is publicly available, shows that Becker’s proceedings have been extended indefinitely. However, it is unclear whether and how much of his income he has to give up. Conditions were imposed until 2031.
