FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012 file photo, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, left, talks with Bernie Ecclestone, president and CEO of Formula One Management, at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. With Ecclestone's Formula One future in doubt amid bribery allegations, one of the most influential team bosses on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014 said the series' prosperity relies on him remaining in charge. Christian Horner, team principal of reigning constructors' champion Red Bull, believes Ecclestone is "the only guy" who can ensure F1 maintains its global reach as the premier motorsport series. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File) (The Associated Press)
BERLIN – A German court says Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone will go on trial on bribery charges.
The Munich state court says it has decided to send to trial the indictment against the 83-year-old Ecclestone. He faces charges of bribery and incitement to breach of trust connected to the alleged payment of a $45 million bribe to a German banker.
A court statement says that dates for the trial haven't yet been set but proceedings are currently expected to start at the end of April.
The banker, Gerhard Gribkowsky, already has been convicted of taking the payment from Ecclestone in connection with the sale of a stake in F1. Ecclestone has insisted that he did "nothing illegal."
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