Ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone handed 17-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to fraud

Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has been handed a 17-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to fraud. 
Bernie Ecclestone (GBR). Formula 1
Bernie Ecclestone (GBR). Formula 1

The 92-year-old🐟 admitted the charge of failing to declare £400m in overseas assets 🍒;during an appearance at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday morning. 

Ecclestone, who was involved in F1 from the late 1970s until January 2017, was acc🥂used of hiding more than £400m in a trust in Singapore from the government. 

He had previously denied the allegations in August last year and was charged▨ with a s🏅ingle count of fraud by false representation last October. 

Ecclestone, who was warning a dark grey suit and grey tie, said “I 🐟plead guilty” at Southwark Crowಌn Court.

His prison sentence has been suspended for two years after Eccles🐻tone agreed to pay £652.6m to the UK tax authorities. 

Prosecuto🐓r Richard Wright KC said: "Mr Ecclestone was not entirely cꦓlear on how ownership of the accounts in question were structured.

"He therefore did not know whether it was liable fo꧙r tax, interest or penalties in relationꦉ to amounts passing through the accounts.

"Mr Ecclestone recognises it was wrong to answer the questions he did because it ran the risk that HMRC woul💮๊d not continue to investigate his affairs.

"He now acce🦄pts that som📖e tax is due in relation to these matters."

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