Peter Graf out on US$3.3m bail<\/p>\n
MANNHEIM, Germany (AFP): Peter Graf, father of tennis star
\nSteffi Graf, left prison here Friday afternoon on US$3.3 million
\nbail after being held in custody for 15 months on tax charges.<\/p>\n
The co-accused, Graf's former financial advisor Joachim
\nEckhardt, was also released on bail of $200,000.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor's office has appealed the decision and the
\nruling will be heard by the appeal court in Karlsruhe.<\/p>\n
However, the judge indicated that any appeal on the current
\nruling \"would have not have a strong chance of succeeding.\"<\/p>\n
As the decision was handed down, Steffi's father, evidently
\nmoved, raised his hands to his face to hide his emotion.<\/p>\n
Outside the court he responded to journalists' questions on
\nwhether he was pleased to be free, saying: \"it's written on my
\nface.\"<\/p>\n
The 58-year did not return to his cell to collect any
\nbelongings, preferring to return directly to the Graf family
\nproperty at Bruehl in the country's south-west.<\/p>\n
In September the Karlsruhe court rejected another ruling to
\nrelease Graf on a two-million-dollar bail saying there was a
\ndanger he could flee.<\/p>\n
Graf has been in jail since August 1995 on charges he failed
\nto pay nearly 20 million marks ($13 million) in taxes on 42
\nmillion marks of his daughter's earnings between 1989 and 1993.<\/p>\n
The accused will have to report to authorities twice-weekly
\nand is banned from leaving the country under bail conditions.<\/p>\n
Graf's tennis star daughter recently voiced her indignation to
\nthe American media at her father's detention saying that it was
\nunfair considering that \"murderers are released after 18 months
\nin jail.\"<\/p>\n
Steffi Graf's earnings since she began her career in 1982 are
\nestimated at $100 million.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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