Boris Becker who was declared bankrupt in 2017 over money owed to bank Arbuthnot Latham dropped his claim of diplomatic immunity. The tennis legend wrote in his statement that he was “not in a position” financially to pursue any part of this case.
Boris Becker’s immunity claim had caused international criticism when the 51-year-old tennis star had lodged the claim earlier this year, successfully blocking a sale of his sporting trophies and personal memorabilia to recover a huge debt. Ace’s lawyers had argued he was protected by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Despite the lawyer team’s efforts, Boris Becker on Monday dropped his claim of diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings because of his role as a sporting ambassador for the Central African Republic. Unfortunately for Mr Becker, in this case, ambassadors have no diplomatic immunity. Moreover, The Central African Republic said Becker’s diplomatic passport was part of a batch which had been stolen in 2014. According to Becker’s version, he had received it directly from one of the war-torn country’s ambassadors.
Boris Becker’s court hearing
Boris Becker, a gifted athlete and jovial gentleman, enjoys his life every given day, even after he was declared as a bankrupt. On Monday, at a court hearing in London, Tony Beswetherick, acting for the bankruptcy trustees said Becker had written in an email that he had “no alternative but to abandon the claim for diplomatic immunity”.
The tennis star has been enjoying a glittering career and amassed more than $25 million in prize money. The 51-year-old German also wrote that he was “not in a position” financially to pursue any part of this case. According to the official documents, the sale of Becker’s belongings, worth an estimated £200 000 will now go ahead. The allegations relate to two German properties and a property in London, as well as various tennis trophies.
In January, Becker appealed for help in tracking down five missing Grand Slam trophies which he said he needed to sell to help pay off his debts.
At a hearing in June, lawyers acting for the bankruptcy trustees said Becker had not provided “full and accurate information” about his assets, belongings and trophies.
