ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 25, 1997 TAG: 9701270103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MANNHEIM, GERMANY
SOURCE: Associated Press
The judge who sentenced Steffi Graf's father to prison for evading taxes on her earnings says the world's top female tennis player had ``no active part'' in the schemes.
And Judge Joachim Plass recommended Friday that the investigation against her be dropped. But authorities are not ready to comply.
`` ...We decide on our own regarding that,'' said Prosecutor Hubert Jobski, who said the investigation is continuing.
``Peter Graf alone bears most of the responsibility,'' Plass said after finding him guilty of evading $7.31 million in taxes and attempted evasion of another $1.82 million. Peter Graf, who acted as his daughter's manager, and was accused of evading taxes on her earnings of $42.2 million between 1989 and 1993, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
Jobski, who had asked for a prison term of six years and nine months for Graf, said he would appeal to a higher court against the shorter sentence. Pending appeals, it could be months before Graf is jailed.
Former family tax adviser Joachim Eckardt, a co-defendant, was convicted of attempted tax evasion and of being an accessory. He was sentenced to two years, six months in prison.
Peter Graf made no comment, but headed to the family home in nearby Bruehl for a conference with his lawyers. Graf and Eckardt remain free on bail, must report to police each week and are barred from traveling.
LENGTH: Short : 36 linesby CNB