ベッカー氏、情報開示義務に従わずトロフィーなど資産隠しか

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】男子テニスの名選手であるボリス・ベッカー氏は、自身をスポーツ界のスターダムに押し上げた1985年のウィンブルドン選手権男子シングルスのトロフィーなど、借金返済を可能にする数々のトロフィーを引き渡していない刑事責任を問われている。（写真は元テニス界のレジェンド、ボリス・ベッカー氏）
　２０１７年６月に破産宣告を受けた５２歳のベッカー氏は、資産に関する情報開示義務に従わなかったとして訴追されている。新たな２８件の訴追内容には、同氏がウィンブルドン初制覇を果たした１９８５年と１９８９年、さらに全豪オープンテニスでは１９９１年と１９９６年に手にしたトロフィーがリストに含まれている。
　ベッカー氏は２２日、ダークグレーのスーツにブルーのネクタイ、そして黒のマスクを着用して英ロンドンの裁判所に出廷し、４５分間の審理で自身の破産に関連した全ての刑事責任について無罪を主張。名前の確認と罪状認否に入った後、保釈中に行方をくらました場合は逮捕状が出されることを了承した。
　検察官はロンドン在住のベッカー氏に対して、後日また新たな訴追に直面する可能性があると明らかにした。一方、弁護人は「彼（ベッカー氏）はこれらの訴追内容に向き合って争い、自身にかけられている疑惑に関して名誉を取り戻すことを決意している」と述べた。
　ベッカー氏は法廷に召喚され、１５分以上にわたって一連の罪状を読み上げられた。その中では、計１００万ポンド（約１億３７００万円）以上の銀行預金および資産隠しなども指摘されているほか、元妻のバーバラさんや別居中の妻リリーさんの口座に送金して、数十万ポンドの財産を動かした疑惑も持たれている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/10/23-12:28）

Boris Becker has been accused of failing to hand over trophies -- including the 1985 Wimbledon men's cup that catapulted him to sporting stardom -- so they could be sold to settle his debts.
The 52-year-old German, who was declared bankrupt in June 2017, is accused of not complying with obligations to disclose information.
Trophies listed on a new 28-count indictment include his maiden Wimbledon trophy, his 1989 silverware from the same tournament, and his Australian Open trophies in 1991 and 1996.
He pleaded not guilty to all counts when he appeared in a London court on Thursday for a 45-minute hearing.
Becker, wearing a dark-grey suit, blue tie and a black face mask, spoke to confirm his name, to enter his pleas, and that he understood a warrant would be issued for his arrest if he absconded on bail.
He was told his trial would be listed to take place in September 2021.
Earlier, Becker, who has worked in TV since he retired, appeared to take a selfie as he entered the court building, in front of scores of assembled international journalists and photographers.
Prosecutor Rebecca Chalkley said Becker, who lives in London, may face further charges at a later date.
Defence counsel Jonathan Caplan said: He (Becker) is determined to face and contest these charges and restore his reputation in relation to the allegations made against him.
Becker was arraigned on a series of charges that took more than 15 minutes to read to the court. They included concealing more than ??1 million ($1.3 million) held in bank accounts, as well as property.
Becker is also accused of removing hundreds of thousands of pounds by transferring it to other accounts, including to former wife Barbara Becker, and estranged wife Sharlely Lilly Becker.
It is also alleged he hid his holding of shares in a firm called Breaking Data Corp.
Becker was released on bail ahead of his trial, which is due to last up to four weeks.
The German took the tennis world by storm as a 17-year-old as he became the then youngest-ever men's Grand Slam champion at Wimbledon in 1985, defending his trophy the following year.
Nicknamed Boom Boom, he went on to win a further four majors and 49 singles titles in all, amassing $25 million in prize money.
Becker also enjoyed a successful spell from 2014 until 2016 as coach of Serbia's world number one Novak Djokovic.