Boris Becker has been released from prison after serving a sentence relating to his 2017 bankruptcy. Check out why he was in prison.
Boris Becker : why was in prison | Sentencing | Age
Becker turned professional in 1984, under the guidance of Romanian-born coach Günther Bosch and Romanian manager Ion Ţiriac, and won his first professional doubles title that year in Munich.
As a teenager, Becker won the Tennis World Young Masters at the NEC in Birmingham in 1985, before taking his first top-level singles title in June that year at Queen’s Club.
Two weeks later, on 7 July, he became the first unseeded player and the first German to win the Wimbledon singles title, defeating Kevin Curren in four sets.
Becker was at that time ranked 20th in ATP ranking, and was unseeded, as at that time Wimbledon did not seed players beyond the top 16.
Why Boris Becker was in prison
Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker has been jailed for two and a half years for hiding £2.5m worth of assets and loans to avoid paying debts.
Also the 54-year-old six-time Grand Slam champion was found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act.
The case centred on Becker’s bankruptcy in June 2017 resulting from an unpaid loan of more than £3m on his luxury estate in Mallorca, Spain.
Referring to Becker’s previous conviction for tax evasion in Germany in 2002, she told the former world number one: “You did not heed the warning you were given and the chance you were given by the suspended sentence and that is a significant aggravating factor…
“You have… sought to distance yourself from your offending and your bankruptcy.
“While I accept your humiliation as part of the proceedings, there has been no humility.”
Boris Becker Sentencing
Former tennis star Boris Becker could potentially face jail time after he was found guilty of moving thousands of dollars from a bank account after declaring bankruptcy.
A jury of London’s Southwark Crown Court ended up convicting Becker of four charges under the Insolvency Act, which, according to the Associated Press, includes removing property, concealing debt, and two other charges of failing to disclose his estate.
The money was allegedly transferred from his business account to other various accounts, including those that went to his ex-wife, Barbara, and his estranged wife, Sharlely “Lilly” Becker.
If convicted, the charges carry a maximum of a seven-year prison sentence. Becker was granted bail until his hearing sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for April 29.
Becker was additionally convicted of falling to disclose one of his properties in Germany and hid a 825,000 euro ($895,000) bank loan.
His bankruptcy originated from a 4.6 million euro ($5 million) loan from a bank in 2013 in addition to $1.6 million that he borrowed from a British businessman in 2014, according to testimony during his trial.
The six-time Grand Slam champion stated that his $50 million in career earnings had gone to payments for an “expensive divorce,” and other various debts.
Becker also stated that he had “expensive lifestyle commitments,” including a house in Wimbledon that cost 22,000 pounds ($28,800) in monthly rent.
Age
He is currently 55 years old.