Ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has pleaded guilty to fraud over a failure to declare £400m held in a trust in Singapore to the government.
Ecclestone, who turns 93 later this month, was due to face trial at Southwark Crown Court in November after previously denying the charge.
The billionaire appeared at the same court today wearing a dark grey suit, supported by his third wife, Fabiana Flosi, to plead guilty to a single count of fraud on 7 July 2015.
The court has previously heard he failed to declare a trust in Singapore with a bank account containing around 650 million US dollars, worth about £400 million at the time.
Prosecutors said Ecclestone made untrue or misleading representations to HM Revenue and Customers at a July 2015 meeting, when he said he “established only a single trust” in favour of his daughters Deborah, Tamara and Petra.
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Guitarist Bernie Marsden, known for performing with British rock band Whitesnake during the 1970s and 80s, has died aged 72.
The British musician died “peacefully” on Thursday, surrounded by his wife and daughters, his family said.
Along with David Coverdale, Marsden co-founded Whitesnake and worked on popular songs like Here I Go Again and Fool For Your Loving.
Image: Whitesnake’s Bernie Marsden (L) and Mick Moody in 1981. Pic: Ilpo Musto/Shutterstock
In a statement, Marsden’s family said: “We are saddened to share that Bernie Marsden has passed away.
“Bernie peacefully left us on Thursday evening, with his wife Fran and daughters Charlotte & Olivia by his side.
“Bernie continued his love for music, writing, and recording until the end.”
Whitesnake’s lead singer Coverdale said he was “honoured” to have shared the stage with Marsden.
He wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter): “I’ve just woken up to the awful news that my old friend & former Snake Bernie Marsden has passed… My sincere thoughts & prayers to his beloved family, friends & fans. A genuinely funny, gifted man, whom I was honoured to know & share a stage with. RIP, Bernie.”
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Born in Buckingham, Marsden began his musical career with various bands before turning professional with UFO in 1972. He co-founded Whitesnake with Coverdale in 1978 and played a significant role in their music.
Aside from his Whitesnake years, Marsden recorded solo albums and played with other iconic rock musicians, such as Robert Plant, Paul Weller, Deep Purple’s Jon Lord, and Gary Moore of Thin Lizzy. He was also part of Sir Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band.
In his autobiography titled “Where’s My Guitar: On The Tourbus With The Snakeman,” self-published in 2017, Marsden shared insights into his musical journey, including private and unseen pictures from his career.
Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has indicated a not guilty plea to a charge of fraud at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The 91-year-old is facing a charge over an alleged failure to declare £400 million of overseas assets to the government.
He faces a charge of fraud by false representation between 13 July 2013 and 5 October 2016.
According to the charge, he allegedly claimed he had established a single trust in favour of his daughters.
He is also alleged to have said that he was not the beneficiary of any other trust in or outside the UK.
Ecclestone – who has three grown-up daughters, Deborah, 67, Tamara, 38, and Petra, 33, and a young son, Ace – allegedly made the representations “intending to make a gain, namely not stated, for yourself”.
Ecclestone was walked in through the building’s exit by court security along with his legal team.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring allowed him to stand outside the dock after his barrister Clare Montgomery QC said her client was “having a little bit of trouble hearing”.
Ecclestone confirmed his name, date of birth and address in Knightsbridge, central London, before indicating a not guilty plea.
He was granted unconditional bail ahead of his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court on 19 September.
The charge against the billionaire was authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service last month after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs, which said the probe had been “complex and worldwide”.
