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Peter Graf found guilty
MANNHEIM. Germany. Jan 24: The father of tennis champion Steffi Graf was convicted Friday of eva-
ding taxes on her earnings and was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, reports AP.
Chief Judge Joachim Plass said Steffi Graf "played no active part" in the tax evasion and he recommended the investigation against her be dropped.
"Steffi is a good ambassador for Germany." the Judge said, adding that her father's role in helping her accomplish that "is recognized by the public."
As for evasion of 12 million" marks (7.31 million dollars) in taxes and attempted evasion of another 3 million marks (1.82 million dollars), the judge said. "Peter Graf alone bears most of the responsibility."
Prosecutor Hubert Jobski said after the verdict that the investigation of Steffi Graf is continuing "and we decide on our own regarding that."
Steffi Graf. 27. never attended the 4-1 /2-month trial.
Filmed by Australia's Channel 7 television as she boarded a flight for Tokyo Just after the verdict was announced, she said .
to reporters. "Haven't you guys got enough?”
Former family tax adviser Joachim Eckardt. a co-defen-dant. was convicted of attempted tax evasion and of being an accessory. He was sentenced to two years six months in prison.
The prosecution and defence have a week to file an appeal, but defence attorney Franz Salditt said. "We're still impressed by the trial. We think it was handled in a perfect manner."
He mentioned that the court had rejected the prosecution's demand for a fine, noting that might have been another "load on her."
"It's dear that the court does not see any wrongful activities on the part of Steffi Graf." Salditt told reporters. That's one of the most important points to us and the Graf family."
Peter Graf made no comment. but headed to the family home in nearby Bruehl for further talks with this lawyer. Graf and Eckardt remain on bail, must report to police each week and are barred from traveling.
Graf spent 15 months in Jail before he was released on 5 million marks bail on Nov. 15. That time will be counted in his term, and with half of the sentence routinely deducted" Wf he e-ouUhl seryfng another 71 Win W mpriths^ । * tS
it could be months before Graf is ordered to begin serving the sentence.
Salditt. who had tried to portray his client as a "helpless, lost man" during the trial, was pleased with the Judge's comments about Grafs role in establishing his daughter at the top of world tennis for 10 years.
"Others would not have been able to stand up to such pressure," the judge had said.
Although the judge placed guilt for the tax evasion squarely on Peter Grafs shoulders. he commented that tax officials first knew about problems in 1989 but waited years to investigate.
Graf didn't deny that he was using mail-box companies in the Netherlands. Liechtenstein and the Dutch Antilles as early as 1987.
One of the defences Salditt had tried to make was that Peter Graf relied on promises from local tax officials of special treatment because his daughter had decided to stay in high-tax German, unlike many other sports stars.
Prosecutor Jobski said following the Judgment. "We must check to see if (state) finance officials are also guilty."
Since Peter Graf was arrested Aug. 2. 1995. the family has paid back taxes, based on figures determined by investigators and tax authorities. Based on. the court's findings, too much back taxes-may have been paid.