Bankrupt Becker drops his diplomatic immunity claim

FORMER world tennis champion Boris Becker has dropped his claim to have diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy.

The three-time Wimbledon winner and BBC commentator had argued his appointment by the Central African Republic as a sporting, cultural and humanitarian attaché to the European Union meant he could not be subjected to legal proceedings.

But after being told on Monday that Becker was no longer pursuing that claim, a judge made a court order extending his bankruptcy indefinitely.

As a result, a planned auction of his trophies and memorabilia – previously put on hold – will go ahead.

The 50-year-old German was declared bankrupt in June 2017 by Registrar Christine Derrett, who recalled watching him play on Centre Court.

The bankruptcy was due to be discharged in June, which would have released him from his debts, but that was put on hold to allow further investigation of the diplomatic immunity issue.

But lawyers acting for the bankruptcy trustees told a specialist insolvency court in London that Becker had dropped his claim. Tony Beswetherick, for the trustees, said Becker wrote in an email that he had “no alternative but to abandon the claim for diplomatic immunity”.

The tennis star also wrote that he was “not in a position” financially to pursue any part of his case. Judge Schaffer, hearing the case, made an order that suspends the discharge of Becker’s bankruptcy indefinitely.

The judge told the court Becker’s finances may be scrutinised if he failed to cooperate with the trustees.

At the June hearing, lawyers acting for the bankruptcy trustees claimed Becker had not provided “full and accurate information” about his assets.

The allegation related to assets including two German properties, a property in London, an interest in three Mercedes dealerships and various trophies and memorabilia.

Becker was granted an injunction in June to stop the auction of memorabilia worth an estimated £200,000. He had intended to argue these items were exempt from the bankruptcy proceedings. However, Mr Beswetherick said he has also withdrawn that part of his case. The bankruptcy application was made in connection with a judgment debt dating back to 2015.