Pro tip for when the debit orders start bouncing – claim to be a diplomat for a small African country.

Last year Boris Becker, three-time Wimbledon winner and one time ‘had sex with a waitress in a broom cupboard whilst his pregnant wife was in hospital having contractions’, was declared bankrupt.

He launched an appeal to try and relocate some of his missing trophies in the hope of flogging them, although that was never going to clear the estimated £54 million (R959 million) debt he found himself in.

My favourite line from the bankruptcy proceedings in London last June?  John Briggs, Becker’s lawyer, told the court: “He is not a sophisticated individual when it comes to finances.”

Plan B – diplomat. Here’s the Telegraph:

…his lawyers have told the High Court that he quietly became a “sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs” attaché for the Central African Republic on April 27 this year…

A defiant Becker said he was “immensely proud” of his new role – and attacked the “bunch of anonymous and unaccountable bankers and bureaucrats” who are chasing him for money.

He said he had “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”.

According to the 1961 Vienna Convention, this means that he cannot be subject to legal process in the courts of any country for so long as he remains a recognised diplomatic agent.

He now cannot be sued for the cash without the consent of the Central African Republic, while legal claims can only be served on him through diplomatic channels.

Here’s another zinger – Boris is due to commentate at Wimbledon, which starts on July 2, but because of this diplomat business none of that money earned whilst commentating will go to his creditors.

What a crafty bugger.

Becker lashed out at those trying to get their money back:

“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.”

Yes, not only is he not paying them back, shutting down the “gravy train”, but he’s actually going to seek compensation.

He also spoke about his deep love for the Central African Republic:

Becker said he was “immensely proud of my appointment at 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 leveler 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.

Who knows, maybe he will make a real difference in a country the BBC says is “rich in diamonds, gold, oil and uranium but has one of the world’s poorest populations”.

I won’t hold my breath.

[source:telegraph]