Bernie Eccleston!

[saintpeter48]

He bribes a court to escape being jailed on bribery charges!!!! How does that work?

[Baldric]

"Money Talks"

[vulcan42]

Money must be more important than justice.

[hc4361]

I thought the court was still deliberating the offer of payment?

It's in Germany, I have no knowledge of the German legal system, but this is in the body of the news report:
"Under Bavarian state law, a trial of the nature of Ecclestone’s can be concluded if the accused makes a payment to a non-profit making organisation, or the treasury, but is not considered an admission of guilt.

Under German law, prosecutors may withdraw charges even during certain criminal trials if all parties agree to a settlement."

So that is how it works.

[humbersloop]

though he seems to feel a bit hard done by..

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/aug/05/formula-one-bernie-ecclestone-idiot-paying-100m-dollars-settle-bribery-trial

[saintpeter48]

And thats justice German style? Bizarre!!

[Gromit]

His wig was only slightly worse than the Judge's.

[hc4361]

The UK allows people to buy themselves out of justice, too.
Speeding motorists can opt to pay for a speed awareness course to avoid penalty points on the licence in certain circumstances.
Shoplifters can admit their guilt and accept a fixed penalty notice, with an £80 payment.
Yobs can also pay a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80 for being disorderly instead of being hauled before the court.

Maybe that is a better way than clogging the courts and prisons with non-violent offenders. The 'fine' would have to a percentage of their earnings or overall wealth though. An £80 is nothing to a millionaire, but might be a lot for some.

[ToraToraTora]

well it must be a facet of the twist and shout's legal system.

[humbersloop]

//Throughout the trial, Ecclestone admitted paying the money but denied it was a bribe, saying he paid it to silence Gribkowsky who had threatened to report him over irregularities in his tax affairs.//

so that's that cleared up then

[tonyav]

So definately not a bribe then !.

[MichaelZZ]

The word "b*nt" and "b*stard" spring to mind. Oops! Can I say that?

[mikey4444]

Is it a wig Gromit ? If he has lost his own hair, why on earth would he wear a wig that looks like a wig ?

[mikey4444]

Its a bribe, just a bribe and shouldn't be dressed up as anything else.

[jno]

bribes aren't that different from payoffs to blackmailers; I would imagine it depends on who first raised the possibility of money.

[gingejbee]

Please tell me i'm not the only one who calls him Bertie Eccles Cake!

[mikey4444]

gingejbee....your description is only one of many. Here's another...liar !

[Wordist]

Surely this is just pragmatism at work. There was little chance of a conviction against an 83 year old billionaire whose lawyers would have lodged endless appeals until he was beyond earthly justice. He is no danger to the public and the $100,000,000 dollars can be put to good use instead of being soaked up by the legal system.
It still stinks though.