Fraud Office Looking To Launch Inquiry Into Ecclestone

After a banker was jailed for accepting $44M in bribes from F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, the Serious Fraud Office has "contacted German authorities and is examining whether it is feasible to launch an inquiry," according to David Charter of the LONDON TIMES. The banker, Gerhard Gribkowsky, was jailed in Munich for eight-and-a-half years for "taking money from Mr. Ecclestone and his family trust over the sale of a huge stake in the motorsport." The SFO said, "We are aware of allegations made against Mr. Ecclestone. We are liaising with the authorities in Germany in respect of these allegations." HM Revenue & Customs have also looked into the case. Ecclestone is facing "further investigation in Munich and possibly in London" (LONDON TIMES, 7/1).