Court: Ebbers in the know

NEW YORK - Bernie Ebbers, the former chief executive of WorldCom, had a firm grip on the details of the giant telecoms company's finances and was the key driver behind the US$11 billion ($15 billion) fraud perpetrated at the company, a court has heard.

The statement came as part of an onslaught by US Government lawyers keen to undermine the picture Ebbers has painted that he was ignorant of accounting methods and relied on his finance director, Scott Sullivan, to handle the details.

Sullivan has admitted widescale misrepresentation of WorldCom's finances and has become the star witness for the prosecution against Ebbers. Ebbers, 63, is accused of fraud, conspiracy and making false regulatory filings.

- REUTERS