MUNICH, Germany - Bernie Ecclestone's bribery trial and charges have been officially dropped, after the F1 chief executive concluded his controversial R1-billion settlement with Munich authorities.
Ecclestone paid R990-million to the state,and R10-million to a German children's charity.
Munich spokeswoman Margarete Notzel confirmed to the German news agency DPA: "After the payment of the agreed amount to the recipients, the court ceased criminal proceedings."
DONE AND DUSTED
Ecclestone is celebrating the end of proceedings with a holiday aboard his huge luxury yacht Petara off the Croatian island of Havr, the Daily Mail reported.
Ecclestone said: "The bottom line is it's been three and a half years of aggravation, travelling, meeting lawyers, and god knows what else, so it is good it is out of the way."
It is not yet clear what Bavaria will do with Ecclestone's millions, the largest criminal court settlement in its history but minister president Horst Seehofer insisted: "We are certainly not breaking into cries of joy."