I'm not worried,it's just unbelievable really,I couldn't see that result happening to me,do you think the judge will be at the next German Grand Prix?
...you know what they say about power, and absolute power at that........him and Sepp Blatter should get together and make babies, oh no, wait up
He's just fooling with you. If he and you went into a revolving door and he was behind you, I guarantee he'd come out first. Thats why he is a bazzillionaire with a leggy blonde wife and you hang around corners taking notes about traffic.
Difference is this time he's just payed it to the state therefore perfectly legal. He's an absolutely top bloke and probably the worlds finest salesman truth be told.
The extraordinary thing was that this prosecution was brought in the first place. What was alleged was not "bribery" in the sense of money paid to a government minister, a police officer, a judge, or someone with official powers to induce them to so something dishonest or corrupt. This case was about money paid by one businessman to another businessman in order to secure a desired outcome in a business deal. In most countries at most times that is not considered "bribery" at all - it's just business. The prosecution was always far-fetched. There was a high likelihood of a huge amount of time and money being consumed on the trial, only to result in an inevitable acquittal. This outcome has saved both face and money all round. What's not to like?
What you are describing is bribery Pete, these days you cannot offer someone a nice meal or a case of beer to ease the ways and waters as complete a deal.
So you're flush with cash. You go into a dealership and spot a pristine Desmo for sale - something you have always wanted and can now afford. Brilliant! You express your interest to the salesman, but he says, "Sorry. We sold that a couple of hours ago. Haven't had time to take the price off it". To which you reply, "Here's 200 notes mate. Treat the wife to a class nosh-up. Now, be a gent and phone up the bloke who thinks he's bought it and tell him there's been a mix-up and that your colleague had already sold it to someone else." Are you telling me that this isn't an attempt at bribery? So what is it then, business commission? Inducement? In most countries no doubt this sort of behaviour is considered normal, but not in northern Europe. It's considered corruption. It would also be corruption if you handed over £100 to a salesman in folding stuff for his acceptance to give you a £1'000 discount on your new Ducati.
Not quite accurate. It is possible to contravene the Competition and Fair Trading laws of the EU (and of the UK, for that matter) in ways that do not even indirectly involve government departments or bodies. If Ecclestone paid an individual in order to secure business, preferential treatment, etc, he could still be found guilty under Anti-trust laws. I suspect Bernie was guilty as sin and happy to settle out-of-court (or at least, half-way out of court).
BBC News - F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone pays to end bribery trial This story is full of good jokes. For a start, how does anyone negotiate a bribe of €33m? You'd have to be pretty hardnosed to screw that out of Bernie. I wonder how the conversation went: "See me right, son, and there's a €1m in it for yer." "You havin' a laugh? I wouldn't do that for anything less than €40m!" "€33m?" "Done." "Gribkowsky was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison in 2012 for accepting bribes." So bribery has been proven then. Seems a bit unfair that one guy gets to languish in prison for several years, whilst the other party just flashes some cash which is surplus to requirements and gets off scot free. "Mr Ecclestone says the payment was given to Gribkowsky after the banker threatened to make false claims about the F1 boss's tax status." So It's not bribery, it's blackmail. Ecclestone was threatened and had to pay him off. Bizarre. If so, why was he locked up for accepting bribes rather than for blackmail? But then if Bernie was being threatened with claims which were false, why did he pay anything at all, let alone €33m? "Mr Ecclestone has attended most of the hearings in person and arrived at the courthouse on Tuesday in a limousine, looking relaxed and accompanied by his wife, Fabiana Flosi" Brilliant name for his wife. That is so nearly "Fabiana Floozy". "Judge Noll ruled that $99m would go to the Bavarian state coffers while $1m would be donated to a children's hospital." So, 1% conscience money, then? It's really hard to know who is the more repugnant in this case, Ecclestone or the German state.
Pragmatically you are absolutely right, but have you read the Bribery Act 2010 ? Whether it applies in this case is a moot point, but I thought Bernie was British and therefore the Act would apply to him ? I do understand the case was brought in Germany. I suppose arguing over these points is what makes lawyers rich - it's just the law.
i think they should read out a victim impact statement to the judge......he will help the situation then...
