GERMANY: STEFI GRAF'S FATHER RELEASED ON 3.3 MILLION DOLLAR BAIL

Описание: (15 Nov 1996) German/Nat

The father of tennis star Steffi Graf was freed Friday in Germany on five (m) million marks (3.3 (m) million U-S dollars) bail after spending 15 months in jail on charges of tax evasion.

But the prosecutor's office has appealed against the decision and the ruling will be heard by the appeal court in Karlsruhe -- and Peter Graf could be placed back in custody.

Graf was accused of failing to pay nearly 20 (m) million marks (13 (m) million U-S dollars) in taxes on 42 (m) million marks of his daughter's earnings between 1989 and 1993.

Steffi Graf's father, Peter, was freed Friday in Germany on bail after spending 15 months in jail on charges of tax evasion.

The judge said he could not legally keep Peter Graf in custody any longer given the likely sentence in the event of a conviction.

But the prosecutor's office has appealed against the decision and there is a possibility that Peter Graf could be placed back in custody.

His defence lawyer did not know when there would be a verdict.

SOUNDBITE: (German)
Lawyer: "We don't know that. We suspect that we have to go quite a long way together yet in this trial."
Q: Herr Graf, did you talk to your daughter?
Lawyer: Herr Graf will not say anything. Please understand that Herr Graf will neither talk about private nor trial-related matters throughout the coming weeks. Herr Graf will remain silent until the main trial is over.
P. Graf: "Must remain silent."
Lawyer: "He does it to allow his defence to talk even more (laughter)."
SUPER CAPTION: Professor Franz Salditt, Peter Graf's Defence lawyer

In September the Karlsruhe court rejected another ruling to release Graf on a two-million- dollar (U-S) bail saying there was a danger he could flee.

Peter Graf was charged with failing to declare 42 (m) million marks (28 (m) million U-S dollars) between 1989 and 1993, on which almost 20 (m) million marks (dlrs 13.3 million) in taxes are due.

Peter Graf managed the career of his daughter during her rise to number one ranking among the world's women players.

As manager, he was in charge of handling the earnings from her 20 Grand Slam titles.

Steffi Graf, 27, has not been charged with any crime, but investigators continue to question whether she had any knowledge of her father's alleged tax-evasion schemes.

Peter Graf has denied that she had anything to do with the charges against him.

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