Gerhard Gribkowsky has handed over more than a quarter of the $44 million alleged 'bribe' he was paid by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Last year, Ecclestone ended his criminal corruption trial by paying a record $100 million to German authorities.
Former banker Gribkowsky, however, remains in jail for receiving the $44 million payment from the 84-year-old Briton. Prosecutors had argued that Ecclestone paid so that Gribkowsky would agree to the Munich state bank BayernLB underselling its stake in F1's commercial rights.
Now, the German-language business publication Manager Magazin will report in its new edition on Friday that Gribkowsky has handed over $12.5 million of the $44m to his former employer. The money came out of the Austrian foundation Gribkowsky established when he received Ecclestone's millions. It is called 'Sonnenschein', translating in English to 'sunshine'.
BayernLB did not comment, but Gribkowsky's lawyer Daniel Amelung confirmed that a "comprehensive reparation" has been made. BayernLB is still pursuing Ecclestone in court for an incredible $415 million, but the F1 supremo insists he has no intention of settling.
"I have got nothing to settle," he told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt earlier this month. "I don't think there is any chance of it settling because the bank has to make an effort to say 'we tried'," Ecclestone is quoted by the UK newspaper Express. "The lawsuit is moving forward. I won't settle." (GMM)
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