Bayern's Hoeness was Arrested, Posted $6.5 Million Bail

• AFP, Wednesday, April 24, 2013 12:54 PM

While Bayern Munich was busy demolishing Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg in Munich, more details emerged about the scandal involving the club’s President, Uli Hoeness. According to German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Hoeness was actually arrested on March 20 and then later released after posting bail at a whopping $6.5 million.

Hoeness is under investigation for tax evasion, but it’s unclear what exactly he was arrested for. The 61-year-old issued a voluntary disclosure last month about an undetermined sum held in a Swiss bank account that he used to gamble on the stock market. The voluntary disclosure was supposed to allow Hoeness to pay the tax that he owes on that amount in arrears.

The Sueddeutsche report points out that tax dodgers who voluntarily turn themselves in before the authorities find out are usually not arrested. But not only was Hoeness arrested, his home was searched, and he also had to post a massive bail. The report does not mention what he was charged with or how much he still owes. According to AFP, the Bayern president has already paid close to $4.2 million in back taxes to German authorities.

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