German prosecutors question Ecclestone extortion claim

Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone (R) talks with his lawyers Sven Thomas (C) and Norbert Scharf (L) as he arrives for the second day of his trial at court in Munich, May 2, 2014. REUTERS/Christof Stache/Pool

MUNICH Germany (Reuters) - German prosecutors cast doubt on assertions by Bernie Ecclestone that he had been the victim of extortion when the Formula One boss returned to court on Friday in a bribery trial where he faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The 83-year-old Briton is accused of bribing now-jailed banker Gerhard Gribkowsky by channelling $44 million (26.08 million pounds) to him in return for smoothing the sale of a stake in Formula One to the private equity firm CVC eight years ago.