December 20, 2022, 10:40 PM
December 20, 2022, 10:40 PM
The former world tennis number one Boris Becker admitted this Tuesday to be “guilty” of the facts of financial fraud that landed him in prison, a “painful” experience, during which he said he feared for his life.
“I have learned a hard lesson. A very expensive lesson. Very painful,” the three-time Wimbledon-winning German tennis player told German television channel Sat.1.
It was his first interview since his release from prison. last week, after eight months in a UK jail.
“Of course I was guilty,” admitted the six-time Grand Slam winner. During his trial, he had alleged naivety or an error in judgment. The court had harshly criticized his lack of repentance.
Crying several times during the interview, the tennis player detailed his experience in prison, where he said he had been “hungry” and had been in “extreme danger”. He also explained that he gave “English and math classes” to other prisoners.
“In prison, you are nobody. You are just a number. Mine was A2923EV,” she added.
Becker said he had feared for his life on several occasions.especially when another inmate threatened to kill him, before “other inmates” intervened.
The 55-year-old tennis player was released on December 15, after having served a prison term for financial offences, mainly related to a fraudulent bankruptcy. As soon as he left, he traveled to Germany.
“Prison has been a good thing for me. You have time to reflect (…) All these years I have made numerous mistakes, I have had bad friends, I have not organized myself very well”, he assured.
Boris Becker, who had lived in the UK since 2012, had been sentenced in April for having concealed or illegally transferred hundreds of thousands of euros and pounds sterling to default on his debts, after declaring bankruptcy.
He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. by a London court, but only served eight months.
The ex-sportsman does not consider staying to live in Germany: “Maybe in Miami,” he said, before also declaring himself “a big fan of Dubai.”
This interview It is the first stage of the media return of the tennis player, who will be the protagonist of a documentary that will be presented out of competition at the next Berlinale, the international film festival in Berlin.
