Boris Becker ‘hid assets after £3m property deal left tennis star bankrupt’

Tennis legend Boris Becker hid his assets after he was declared bankrupt over a £3million loan for a luxury Mallorca property, a court heard.

Becker, 54, is accused of concealing his Wimbledon trophy, a Chelsea flat, two German properties and nearly £1m when he was declared broke.

He is also accused of not disclosing a £620,000 debt as well as his stake of 75,000 shares in AI firm Breaking Data Corp.

Prosecutor Rebecca Chalkley, for the the Insolvency Service, told jurors at
Southwark Crown Court the case is about bankruptcy.

‘That may have sounded rather daunting and your hearts may have sunk somewhat.

‘In short the issues boil down to day to day issues of dishonesty and that is what is at the heart of this case.

‘This case concerns Mr Becker’s conduct in connection with the bankruptcy.

‘The alleged offences occurred both before and after he was made subject of a bankruptcy order.’

Jurors heard that when a person is declared bankrupt, they were given some protections from their creditors but also placed under certain obligations.

‘As a result, bankrupts are expected to be truthful and to disclose fully their assets, money, property and bank accounts, so someone called the trustee.

‘In short, they are a professional whose job is to identify and then recover or sell the assets of the bankrupt,’ said Ms Chalkley.

Ms Chalkley that it was a ‘longstanding policy’ to prosecute those who ‘play the system’ of bankruptcy in bad faith.

‘It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Becker acted dishonestly with regards to a number of his assets, that in various ways he hid or made unavailable to those responsible for identifying it,’ she said.

Describing how Becker came to be bankrupt, the prosecutor said took a ‘£3million to £3.5million’ loan from private bank Arbuthnot Latham to buy a property in Mallorca, Spain.

But the bank started legal proceedings against Becker in July 2016 after he failed to pay them back.

The prosecutor said Becker attempted to get this case thrown out of court on more than one occasion until being made bankrupt on June 21 the following year.

‘It is the prosecution case therefore that from at least the date of the first issue of the statutory demand Mr Becker was aware of the possibility of becoming bankrupt on a future occasion.

‘He was essentially on notice, essentially aware.

‘Additionally, he had the benefit of being represented by solicitors who could no doubt present the law and advise him,’ said Ms Chalkley.

Becker, of Battersea, denies seven charges of concealing property, nine counts of failing to disclose trophies, two counts of removing property required by the receiver, five counts of failing to disclose details of his estate and one count of concealing debt.

He is bailed conditionally with requirements to live and sleep at his Battersea address and notify the Insolvency Service, who prosecute the case, at least 48 hours before travelling abroad, including details of all countries and islands he will be visiting.

Becker is also required to provide his solicitors with his passport when not travelling.

The trial continues.
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