LONDON (Reuters) - Former tennis champion Boris Becker has claimed diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings by taking up a role with the Central African Republic as a sports envoy.

Becker, 50, was declared bankrupt by a British court in 2017 in connection to a debt to private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co. He has recently been pursued for “further assets”, according to a statement by his lawyers.

The German former world number 1 lodged a claim at the High Court in London to halt the case because his appointment as Attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs entitled him to immunity under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic relations, the statement said.

Becker said the proceedings against him were “unjustified and unjust”.

“I have now asserted diplomatic immunity ... in order to bring this farce to an end, so that I can start to rebuild my life,” he said in a statement.

“I am immensely proud of my appointment at the Sports and Culture Attache for the Central African Republic.”

Arbuthnot Latham & Co had no immediate comment on Becker’s move.

The foreign minister of the former French colony and one of the world’s poorest and unstable countries, offered little support for Becker.

“No diplomat can avail himself of his immunity in the face of his own turpitude,” Chancel Sokode told Reuters by phone. “He cannot brandish his immunity in this case to shirk his responsibilities.”

Central African Republic has suffered a string of bloody political crises since former president Francois Bozize seized power in a 2003 military coup.

FILE PHOTO: Former tennis player Boris Becker poses for photographers at the world premiere of the film "I am Bolt" in London, Britain, November 28, 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo

Violence erupted again in 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted Bozize, prompting reprisals from mostly Christian militias.

A UN report last year said many of the incidents of rape, murder, torture and looting by various groups and governments from 2003-2015 could constitute crimes against humanity.

Becker has appointed human rights lawyer Ben Emmerson to handle his claim. Emmerson has previously represented Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as he contested his extradition to Sweden, and the wife of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who was murdered in London in 2006.</s>Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker is using his role as an ambassador for the Central African Republic to claim diplomatic immunity from ongoing bankruptcy proceedings in the UK.

Lawyers for the former tennis star lodged a claim in the high court in London on Thursday asserting immunity against attempts to enforce bankruptcy proceedings against Becker, which his creditors have applied to extend, citing his role as the Central African Republic’s attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs, which he started in April this year.

The position is covered by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which means that Becker cannot be made subject to any legal process without the consent of the Central African Republic and the foreign secretary Boris Johnson, according to his lawyers.

Becker was declared bankrupt in June 2017 over an undisclosed amount of money owed to private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co, which a court ruled he was not able to pay.

After his lawyers submitted the application, Becker said: “The decision to commence bankruptcy proceedings against me was both unjustified and unjust. A bunch of anonymous and unaccountable bankers and bureaucrats pushed me into a completely unnecessary declaration of bankruptcy, which has inflicted a whole heap of damage on me, both commercially and professionally, and on those close to me.

“I have now asserted diplomatic immunity as I am in fact bound to do, in order to bring this farce to an end, so that I can start to rebuild my life. Once this gravy train for the suits has been stopped in its tracks, my lawyers will turn to the question of compensation. I will be coming after the people who forced this process through to hold them publicly accountable for their actions.”

Arbuthnot Latham & Co declined to immediately comment on Becker’s statement.

Becker will reportedly have his own office in the Brussels embassy of the Central African Republic as part of the role as sports attache.

He has employed Ben Emmerson QC, who has previously represented Julian Assange and Marina Litvinenko, to fight his bankruptcy case.

He continued: “I should add that I am immensely proud of my appointment as the sports and culture Attache for the Central African Republic. Sport is incredibly important in Africa and is fast becoming a universal language, a form of social diplomacy and a leveller between people from vastly different and unequal social backgrounds around the world.

“My diplomatic role in the Central African Republic allows me to give something meaningful back to sports supporters in one of the poorest parts of the world. There is no reason why a role of this kind should be treated any differently to an appointment as a military or a trade attache, which everyone recognises as attracting diplomatic immunity.”</s>Boris Becker was never known for being particularly diplomatic on the tennis court and the three-times Wimbledon champion's frequent outbursts of emotions are still legendary.

So it likely raised a few eyebrows when Becker announced he was pursuing a second career in diplomacy. In April, the German sports star said that he had been named the Central African Republic's "Attache for Sports/Humanitarian/Cultural Affairs in the European Union."

Boris Becker tweeted "Diplomatic honours for me ! I have been appointed by the Central African Republic as its Attache' for Sports/Humanitarian/Cultural Affairs in the European Union"

The announcement came while Becker was being sued over money he allegedly owes to private bank Arbuthnot Latham, after the sports star's bankruptcy last year. And coincidence or not, Beckers lawyers now argue that his diplomatic role grants him "diplomatic immunity under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."

"This means he cannot be subject to legal process in the courts of any country for so long as he remains a recognized diplomatic agent," his legal team wrote in a letter. "He may not be made subject to any legal process, whatever the merits, without the express consent of the Central African Republic; and legal claims can only be served on him through diplomatic channels," the statement continues.

His lawyers have also presented those claims to Britain's High Court, arguing that both British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his CAR counterpart would have to decide over whether any lawsuits should proceed — turning the private bankruptcy of a former sports champion into a politically delicate matter. If Becker were to be prosecuted regardless, other states could potentially use the case to target diplomats abroad who are protected by the very same immunity.

But Becker's defense strategy has also triggered questions over his motivations and timing in accepting a diplomatic role with the Central African Republic — a country which is in the midst of a bloody civil conflict and humanitarian crisis that may not be (or perhaps should not be) overly focused on its cultural and sports ties to Europe right now.

In a statement posted online, Becker appeared to preempt possible allegations that he may have accepted his diplomatic role for the CAR to gain diplomatic immunity to protect him from the lawsuit. "I am immensely proud of my appointment at the Sports and Culture Attaché for the Central African Republic. Sports is incredibly important in Africa and is fast becoming a universal language, a form of social diplomacy and a leveller between people from vastly different and unequal social background around the world," Becker wrote.

'There is no reason why a role of this kind should be treated any differently to an appointment as a military or a trade Attaché," he continued. The former tennis champion also condemned the decision to commence bankruptcy proceedings against him as "unjustified and unjust" and announced he would seek compensation for the "completely unnecessary declaration of bankruptcy" that he was forced into.

Article 29 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which specifies that "the person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable," has long been controversial. In 2014, for instance, Saudi businessman Sheikh Walid Juffali was named permanent representative by the small Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, after his former wife Christina Estrada made separation claims.

Britain's High Court ruled in 2016 that his diplomatic status was "entirely artificial," drawing rare governmental condemnations. Britain's Foreign Office criticized the ruling at the time, saying it could lead to British diplomats' statuses abroad being "unjustifiably curtailed," and an appeals court dismissed the High Court's assessment.

But as a permanent resident of Britain, the court of appeal ruled, Sheikh Walid Juffali was still not protected by his diplomatic immunity. Estrada was subsequently awarded about $100 million.

If the same logic were to be applied in Becker's case, the long-time British resident might discover that he isn't protected by his work with the Central African Republic after all.</s>Former tennis champion Boris Becker has claimed diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings against him by taking up a role with the Central African Republic as a sports envoy.

LONDON: Former tennis champion Boris Becker has claimed diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings against him by taking up a role with the Central African Republic as a sports envoy.

Becker, 50, was declared bankrupt by a British court in 2017 in connection to a debt to private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co. He has recently been pursued for "further assets", according to a statement by his lawyers.

The German former world number 1 lodged a claim at the High Court in London to halt the case because his appointment as Attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs entitled him to immunity under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic relations, the statement said.

Becker said the proceedings against him were "unjustified and unjust".

"I have now asserted diplomatic immunity ... in order to bring this farce to an end, so that I can start to rebuild my life," he said in a statement.

"I am immensely proud of my appointment at the Sports and Culture Attache for the Central African Republic."

Arbuthnot Latham & Co had no immediate comment on Becker's move.

The former French colony is one of the world's poorest countries and has suffered a string of bloody political crises since former president Francois Bozize seized power in a 2003 military coup.

Violence erupted again in 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted Bozize, prompting reprisals from mostly Christian militias.

A UN report last year said many of the incidents of rape, murder, torture and looting by various groups and governments from 2003-2015 could constitute crimes against humanity.

Becker has appointed human rights lawyer Ben Emmerson to handle his claim. Emmerson has previously represented Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as he contested his extradition to Sweden, and the wife of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who was murdered in London in 2006.</s>Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker announced Friday he is claiming diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings in Britain as an ambassador for the Central African Republic.

Lawyers for the 50-year-old tennis player, a former world number one, lodged a claim Thursday in the High Court asserting immunity after he was appointed a sports attache for the Central African Republic in April.

Becker -- who won six Grand Slams in the 1980s and 90s -- was declared bankrupt by a London court in June 2017 for failing to pay a long-standing debt.

But his position as attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs could be covered by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

This means the consent of Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his counterpart in Bangui would be needed before Becker is subjected to any legal proceedings, his lawyers said.

The bankruptcy application was made by private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co in relation to a debt owed to them by Becker dating to 2015.

Becker, however, said: "The decision to commence bankruptcy proceedings against me was both unjustified and unjust.

"A bunch of anonymous and unaccountable bankers and bureaucrats pushed me into a completely unnecessary declaration of bankruptcy, which has inflicted a whole heap of damage on me, both commercially and professionally, and on those close to me," he added, in a statement issued by his lawyers.

"I have now asserted diplomatic immunity as I am in fact bound to do, in order to bring this farce to an end, so that I can start to rebuild my life."

A spokesman for Arbuthnot, contacted by AFP in London, declined to comment.

When asked about Becker, European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told a daily news briefing in Brussels on Friday: "We have neither been involved in this appointment, nor been asked for EU accreditation.

"So as concerns the role he is playing, maybe best to ask your questions to the authorities of the Central African Republic."

Mark Stephens, a lawyer with London-based law firm Howard Kennedy and an expert in diplomatic immunity, said Becker "should not be allowed to avoid accountability just because he has a role with the Central African Republic".

Stephens told Britain's Press Association: "The Vienna Convention which established diplomatic immunity was intended to protect the highest members of state -- sovereigns, prime ministers, that sort of thing -- not advisers to fishing organisations, say.

The trustees handling the bankruptcy said they "do not accept these assertions" made by Becker.

"We welcome Mr Becker's appointment to promote sport in the Central African Republic. However, we believe that it has no material impact on Mr Becker's bankruptcy," trustee Mark Ford said in a statement.

Becker shook up the tennis world at Wimbledon in 1985 when, as an unseeded player, he became the then youngest-ever male Grand Slam champion at the age of 17, defending the trophy the following year.

The German went on to enjoy a glittering career and amassed more than $25 million in prize money.

Becker's tangled private life has also kept him in the news.

He has a daughter conceived in a brief but now famous encounter with a Russian model who claimed she met Becker at a London bar and had sex with him in a broom cupboard at a nearby Japanese restaurant.

In January, Becker appealed for help in tracking down five missing Grand Slam trophies which he said he needed to sell to help pay off his debts.</s>(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, FILE). FILE - In this file photo dated Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, Boris Becker motions as he watches Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, practice during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, in New York. Lawyers for Becker cl...

(Irle Moser Rechtsanwalte PartG via AP Images, FILE). FILE - In this file photo originally released on Friday, April 27, 2018, President Prof. Faustin Archange Touadera, left, shakes hands with retired German tennis star Boris Becker in Brussels, Belgi...

(AP Photo/Ben Curtis, FILE). FILE - This is a June 29, 2016, file photo showing Boris Becker at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. Lawyers for Becker claimed in Britain’s High Court late Thursday June 14, 2018, that Becker's role as a sport...

LONDON (AP) - Retired German tennis star Boris Becker is claiming his unpaid role as a sports attache for Central African Republic gives him diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings in Britain.

The three-time Wimbledon champion took up the attache role in April. His lawyers claimed in Britain's High Court late Thursday that this protects him from ongoing bankruptcy actions.

Becker says his role as Central African Republic attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs means he is covered by a 1961 convention on diplomatic relations.

Legal expert Mark Stephens told The Associated Press that in his view Becker's claim is valid, but he urged Central African Republic to take steps to prevent the apparent abuse of diplomatic immunity.

"Central African Republic should be asked to revoke his immunity for this particular case because it relates to his personal activities and predates his appointment and in no way relates to his diplomatic function," Stephens said. "That would let the court case proceed."

The 50-year-old Becker, who lives in Britain, was declared bankrupt in June 2017. He is selling some of his memorabilia including Wimbledon trophies in an effort to reduce his debts.

The former world No. 1 has criticized the bankruptcy proceedings as "unjustified and unjust," saying he had been pushed into an unnecessary declaration of bankruptcy by "a bunch of anonymous and unaccountable bankers and bureaucrats" trying to damage him.

"I have now asserted diplomatic immunity as I am in fact bound to do, in order to bring this farce to an end, so that I can start to rebuild my life," Becker said.

Becker was named to the volunteer sports attache role on April 26, more than nine months after his bankruptcy declaration.

Central African Republic President Faustin Touadera said at the time he was "extremely pleased that a world star like Boris Becker, with his extensive international relations, has agreed to support our country."

Becker said then that he hoped to help improve living conditions in Central African Republic. A press release indicated he would have an office at the country's embassy in Brussels.

Since the appointment, Becker's Twitter feed has shown no signs of promoting anything in Central African Republic. It was also not immediately clear whether Becker has ever visited the African nation.

The landlocked Central African Republic is one of the world's most impoverished countries, destabilized by deadly sectarian violence since 2013 with thousands of people of killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

The news of Becker's claim of immunity was met with confusion Friday in the country's capital, Bangui, where several people said they didn't even know who Becker was.

A spokesman for the presidency said it was up to Becker to be responsible for his own actions.

"We're not responding to something that has nothing to do with us," spokesman Albert Yaloke Mokpeme said.

But a member of the country's Olympic committee, Cecile Kolingba, said "trying to brandish this diplomatic cover to escape justice, I find that dishonest."

Attacks by armed groups surged again last year in parts of the country of 4.5 million people, sending thousands of people fleeing from their homes. The unrest has created more than a half a million refugees, according to the United Nations.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Former world tennis number one Boris Becker has claimed diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings — citing his role as a sports attache to the Central African Republic.

Becker, who is a three-time Wimbledon champion, was appointed to the role in April and lawyers for the 50-year-old German lodged a claim asserting immunity in the English high court on Thursday.

His position as attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs is covered by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

This means Becker cannot be subjected to any legal proceedings without the consent of British foreign secretary Boris Johnson and his counterpart in Bangui, lawyers Sylvester Amiel Lewin and Horne said.

Becker was declared bankrupt in June 2017 by Registrar Christine Derrett, who recalled watching him play on Centre Court.

The tennis champion is currently selling memorabilia of his career including Wimbledon trophies to help pay off his debts.

The bankruptcy application was made by private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co in connection with a judgment debt owed to them by Becker dating as far back as 2015.

Becker said: “The decision to commence bankruptcy proceedings against me was both unjustified and unjust.

“A bunch of anonymous and unaccountable bankers and bureaucrats pushed me into a completely unnecessary declaration of bankruptcy, which has inflicted a whole heap of damage on me, both commercially and professionally, and on those close to me.

“I have now asserted diplomatic immunity as I am in fact bound to do, in order to bring this farce to an end, so that I can start to rebuild my life.”

Mark Stephens, lawyer with Howard Kennedy and an expert in diplomatic immunity, said Becker’s creditors should raise the issue with the Central African Republic to ensure anyone with a legitimate case for the former tennis ace’s money could make it.

He said: “What you might say is where you are claiming diplomatic immunity because it directly flows from your job, it is right that immunity is both legal and morally sensible.

“In another case, it may be legal to have diplomatic immunity but it is not morally appropriate because you are using your immunity as someone with diplomatic status to avoid, say, a parking fine, or paying money to support your family.”

He said Becker “should not be allowed to avoid accountability just because he has a role with the Central African Republic”.

Mr Stephens added: “One of the problems we have is there is a kind of blanket assumption that just because they are a diplomat they should be freed of all moral obligation. That’s clearly wrong.

“The Vienna Convention which established diplomatic immunity was intended to protect the highest members of state — sovereigns, prime ministers, that sort of thing — not advisers to fishing organisations, say.

“What’s happened is the doors have been thrown open to diplomats and as a consequence we have got so many that will not hold the high status of diplomacy. We have to make them accountable.”</s>Tennis ace Boris Becker has cited his role as sports attache to the Central African Republic to claim diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings.

The former world number one, who was a three-time Wimbledon champion, was appointed as attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs in April.

His position is covered by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, meaning he cannot be subjected to any legal proceedings without the consent of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his counterpart in Bangui, his lawyers said.

Lawyers Sylvester Amiel Lewin and Horne lodged a claim asserting immunity in the High Court yesterday.

The 50-year-old German, who was once worth £27.5 million, shot to fame in 1985 when he became the youngest Wimbledon champion at 17.

But he was declared bankrupt in June 2017 by Registrar Christine Derrett.

The tennis champion is currently selling memorabilia of his career including Wimbledon trophies to help pay off his debts.

The bankruptcy application was made by private bankers Arbuthnot Latham & Co in connection with a judgement debt owed to them by Becker dating as far back as 2015.

Becker said: ‘The decision to commence bankruptcy proceedings against me was both unjustified and unjust.

‘A bunch of anonymous and unaccountable bankers and bureaucrats pushed me into a completely unnecessary declaration of bankruptcy, which has inflicted a whole heap of damage on me, both commercially and professionally, and on those close to me.

‘I have now asserted diplomatic immunity as I am in fact bound to do, in order to bring this farce to an end, so that I can start to rebuild my life.’

MORE: Pre-marathon sex is not going to damage your performance

MORE: Professor Stephen Hawking’s ashes to be buried next to Newton and Darwin</s>Retired tennis star Boris Becker is claiming his role as a sports attache for the Central African Republic gives him diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings

LONDON (AP) — Retired German tennis star Boris Becker is claiming his unpaid role as a sports attache for Central African Republic gives him diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings in Britain.

The three-time Wimbledon champion took up the role in April. His lawyers claimed in Britain’s High Court late Thursday that this protects him from ongoing bankruptcy actions.

Becker says his role as Central African Republic attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs means he is covered by a 1961 convention on diplomatic relations.

Legal expert Mark Stephens told The Associated Press that in his view Becker’s claim is valid, but he urged Central African Republic to take steps to prevent the apparent abuse of diplomatic immunity.

“Central African Republic should be asked to revoke his immunity for this particular case because it relates to his personal activities and predates his appointment and in no way relates to his diplomatic function,” Stephens said. “That would let the court case proceed.”

The 50-year-old Becker, who lives in Britain, was declared bankrupt in June 2017. He is selling some of his memorabilia including Wimbledon trophies in an effort to reduce his debts.

The former world No. 1 has criticized the bankruptcy proceedings as “unjustified and unjust,” saying he had been pushed into an unnecessary declaration of bankruptcy by “a bunch of anonymous and unaccountable bankers and bureaucrats” trying to damage him.

“I have now asserted diplomatic immunity as I am in fact bound to do, in order to bring this farce to an end, so that I can start to rebuild my life,” Becker said.

Becker was named to the volunteer sports attache role on April 26, more than nine months after his bankruptcy declaration.

Central African Republic President Faustin Touadera said he was “extremely pleased that a world star like Boris Becker, with his extensive international relations, has agreed to support our country.”

Becker said at the time that he hoped to help improve living conditions in Central African Republic. A press release indicated he would have an office at the country’s embassy in Brussels.

Since then, Becker’s Twitter feed has shown no signs of promoting anything in Central African Republic. It was also not immediately clear whether Becker has ever visited the African nation.

The landlocked Central African Republic is one of the world’s most impoverished countries, destabilized by deadly sectarian violence since 2013 with thousands of people of killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Attacks by armed groups surged again last year in parts of the country, sending thousands of people fleeing from their homes. The unrest has created more than a half a million refugees, according to the United Nations.</s>Retired tennis star Boris Becker is claiming his role as a sports attache for the Central African Republic gives him diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings.

LONDON — Retired tennis star Boris Becker is claiming his role as a sports attache for the Central African Republic gives him diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings.

The three-time Wimbledon champion took up that role in April. His lawyers claimed in Britain’s High Court late Thursday this protects him from ongoing bankruptcy actions.

He says his role as attache to the European Union on sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs means he is covered by a 1961 convention on diplomatic relations.

His legal team says he can only be subjected to legal proceedings with the consent of British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his counterpart in the Central African Republic.

The 50-year-old Becker was declared bankrupt in June 2017. He says he wants to rebuild his life.
Boris Becker, who was once the highest ranked men's singles tennis player in the world, has claimed diplomatic immunity from a bankruptcy claim by private bankers Arbuthnot Latham, based on his role as a sports attaché to the European Union from the Central African Republic.