Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker is using his role as an ambassador for the Central African Republic to claim diplomatic immunity from ongoing bankruptcy proceedings in the UK.
Lawyers for the former tennis star lodged a claim in the high court in London on Thursday asserting immunity against attempts to enforce bankruptcy proceedings against Becker, which his creditors have applied to extend, citing his role as the Central African Republic’s attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs, which he started in April this year.
The position is covered by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which means Becker cannot be made subject to any legal process without the consent of the Central African Republic and the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, according to his lawyers.
Becker was declared bankrupt in June 2017 over an undisclosed amount of money owed to private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co, which a court ruled he was not able to pay.
After his lawyers submitted the application, Becker said: “The decision to commence bankruptcy proceedings against me was both unjustified and unjust. A bunch of anonymous and unaccountable bankers and bureaucrats pushed me into a completely unnecessary declaration of bankruptcy, which has inflicted a whole heap of damage on me, both commercially and professionally, and on those close to me.
“I have now asserted diplomatic immunity as I am in fact bound to do, in order to bring this farce to an end, so that I can start to rebuild my life. Once this gravy train for the suits has been stopped in its tracks, my lawyers will turn to the question of compensation. I will be coming after the people who forced this process through to hold them publicly accountable for their actions.”
Arbuthnot Latham & Co declined to immediately comment on Becker’s statement.
Becker will reportedly have his own office in the Brussels embassy of the Central African Republic as part of the role as sports attache.
He has employed Ben Emmerson QC, who has previously represented Julian Assange and Marina Litvinenko, to fight his bankruptcy case.
He continued: “I should add that I am immensely proud of my appointment as the sports and culture attache for the Central African Republic. Sport is incredibly important in Africa and is fast becoming a universal language, a form of social diplomacy and a leveller between people from vastly different and unequal social backgrounds around the world.
“My diplomatic role in the Central African Republic allows me to give something meaningful back to sports supporters in one of the poorest parts of the world. There is no reason why a role of this kind should be treated any differently to an appointment as a military or a trade attache, which everyone recognises as attracting diplomatic immunity.”
Becker is as mad as Assange and this latest charade to avoid bankruptcy should be ignored.No doubt the fawning bbc will continue to fritter away the licence fee by employing him over Wimbledon.
Becker is as mad as Assange and this latest charade to avoid bankruptcy should be ignored.No doubt the fawning bbc will continue to fritter away the licence fee by employing him over Wimbledon.
Boris Becker may have lost his £100m fortune in part because of questionable investments in the Nigerian oil industry, according to claims in the German press
Boris Becker may have lost his £100m fortune in part because of questionable investments in the Nigerian oil industry, according to claims in the German press
he even talks well about football, not just tennis.
obviously there are areas of his life that he could improve upon!
becker is one of the best pundits about, and everhe even talks well about football, not just tennis.obviously there are areas of his life that he could improve upon!
It would be an absolute disgrace if the BBC continue to employ him. This claim is a joke and the other Boris should get off his backside and have some strong words with the CAR.
It would be an absolute disgrace if the BBC continue to employ him. This claim is a joke and the other Boris should get off his backside and have some strong words with the CAR.
Ending up with Nothing is one Thing ,Ending up Owing Millions is another ,what was he doing with the Money ?
Shirley at some point you must realise things are not going too good ,I need to hold a few quid back ?
But no, he had Millions wanted More Millions and has basically done his and his creditors brains ..
He should be shifted to the C.A.R to live out the rest of his years, I am sure they will look after him .
Ending up with Nothing is one Thing ,Ending up Owing Millions is another ,what was he doing with the Money ? Shirley at some point you must realise things are not going too good ,I need to hold a few quid back ? But no, he had Millions wanted More
Boris Becker's diplomatic passport is a FAKE: Tennis star's document that he claimed entitled him to immunity from bankruptcy proceedings was stolen in 2014 say Central African Republic
Boris Becker's Central African Republic diplomatic passport 'is a stolen fake'
German former tennis pro claims CAR President made him a sports attaché
However, CAR Foreign Minister denied he had approved the appointment
Foreign Ministry says Becker's passport corresponds to a batch of stolen ones
Mr Becker declared bankruptcy last year in the hope of clearing £54million debt
Boris Becker's diplomatic passport is a FAKE: Tennis star's document that he claimed entitled him to immunity from bankruptcy proceedings was stolen in 2014 say Central African RepublicBoris Becker's Central African Republic diplomatic passport 'is a