Possible leak of confidential information? - Bobic and Hellmann respond to Bernstein's allegations.
Former manager Bobic is accused of sharing private files from Hertha Berlin with outsiders. In this case, Frankfurt's chairman Axel Hellmann (52) was called as a witness at the Regional Court in Berlin on Monday, where he took an oath.
Bobic claims he's owed around 3.5 million euros in unpaid compensation, which Hertha wants to avoid by abruptly terminating his contract. Hertha says the reason is Bobic's supposed disclosure of sensitive information.
The trial at Hall 3810, including case number 101 O 28/23, was presided over by Judge Dr. Astrid Zilm at 10 am. Hellmann's attendance is significant because of a declaration made by the previous Hertha president, Kay Bernstein (43). In it, Bernstein claimed he'd heard rumors that Bobic had shared confidential papers with non-club members. It further stated that Hellmann, acting in his capacity as a DFL official, had received such a document from Bobic.
Hellmann testifies in court
While being questioned by the judge, Hellmann claimed he hadn't seen any documents nor received any from Bobic. Hellmann declared, "I can confirm with 100% certainty that I have never received any information about this from Mr. Bobic."
Hellmann also shared his understanding of the situation, he revealed that Bernstein had informed him that Hertha was thinking of filing for bankruptcy. The strategy: dissociate the club from investors, clear all debts, and reestablish Hertha as an amateur team. Hellmann recalled, "I told Bernstein that this would result in a great financial loss for Hertha."
A bombshell revelation came when Hellmann disclosed that Bernstein told him in September 2023 about his sworn affidavit and said it was necessary for "increasing the pressure" on Bobic for a potential settlement.
As a licensed attorney, Hellmann, explained to the court that Bernstein was a devout follower of Hertha. "Hertha meant more to him than anything else. I couldn't tell whether Kay Bernstein was knowledgeable about the legal repercussions. He seemed to think the issue could be settled amicably."
Bobic, now a former manager, also denied the allegations, saying, "I was taken aback when I first heard the accusation. I've never provided anything to outsiders. It would have harmed me. As a club manager, I'm responsible for protecting the club. I didn't have any investor files at home."
At the end of the proceedings, Hertha's attorneys, Dr. Johan-Michel Menke and Dr. Thomas Schulz, had both Bobic and Hellmann take an oath.
The verdict of the trial is yet to be determined. It's uncertain whether or when a judgment will be made or a new court date will be scheduled. It's also unclear if Bobic will receive his compensation.
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Source: symclub.org
