SPORTS: Jailed ex-Bayern chief Hoeness wins partial freedom

Berlin - Former Bayern Munich boss Uli Hoeness was on
Friday granted day-release for the remainder of his prison
term for tax fraud, justice officials said.
The decision, announced by the regional justice ministry in
the southern state of Bavaria, comes seven months after
Hoeness, who turns 63 on Monday, began a three-and-a-
half year prison term.
Hoeness, who was sentenced for having cheated the state
out of 28.5 million euros ($34.3 million), had already been
released to spend Christmas and then New Year with his
wife and family out of prison.
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Bild daily published Friday a front-page photo of Hoeness
on a snowy walk with his wife, Susi, under the headline
"Hoeness is practising freedom".
It said he was expected to soon begin work with the youth
division of FC Bayern.
His new day-release regime will now permit him to pursue
a regular job before returning to prison at 6:00 pm.
Hoeness, who was replaced as Bayern Munich president
by Karl Hopfner, spent four decades at the Bundesliga
champions, initially as a player, and also has a successful
sausage business.
During his four-day trial in March last year, he admitted to
hiding his wealth in secret Swiss bank accounts while
obsessively "gambling" on stock and currency markets for
years before seeking to come clean in return for immunity
from prosecution.
But his January 2013 attempt to turn himself in to
authorities was deemed too little too late.