Bernie Ecclestone has told a court in Munich that he paid a former banker to avoid a potentially costly tax investigation but denied the payment was a bribe. He said he was worried that if he did not pay, Mr Gribkowsky would alert the UK tax authorities to “things” that might lead to a tax inquiry and he said: “I paid him to keep calm and not to do silly things”.
Bribe: money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust.