LONDON (AFP) – German tennis great Boris Becker told a London court on Monday he had not given officials the “runaround” over missing trophies.
Becker was declared bankrupt in 2017 and is on trial accused of failing to hand over assets including nine trophies and medals from a glittering career including six Grand Slam singles titles.
During proceedings at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, prosecutor Rebecca Chalkey asked Becker, 54, if he had given the trustee of bankruptcy “the runaround” in an attempt to conceal the prizes.
She said, “You reportedly claimed that you didn’t know where the missing trophies were. That’s simply not true is it?” She added, “You gave him the runaround.”
But the former player replied “that’s not correct”. Becker denies 24 charges under the
Insolvency Act.
Some of his trophies were auctioned off for GBP700,000 to pay his debts, the court heard.
Among the awards he is accused of failing to hand over after he was declared bankrupt are two of his three Wimbledon men’s singles titles, his 1992 Olympic gold medal and Australian Open trophies from 1991 and 1996.
