Rodge for Austria’s ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz
The Higher Regional Court of Vienna acquitted Austria’s ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Monday of the allegation of the false statement. The judgment raises a prior conviction of eight months in prison for probation. Background: In 2020, the ÖVP politician was asked before the Ibiza investigation committee after his role in ordering supervisory boards for the State Holding ÖBAG. According to the first instance, he had reduced his significant influence. According to the Higher Regional Court, his answers at that time are not to be regarded as wrong.
With the judge’s decision, the cause of the possible false statement from Kurz and its then chief of cabinet Bernhard Bonelli takes another turn. The politician was acquitted because, according to the court, he « did not conceal any significant statements » – unlike his familiar Bonelli. The Higher Regional Court confirmed that his guilty verdict of February 2024 – in short was due to eight months, Bonelli was condemned to six months.
Bonelli said before the parliament that he did not know that the entrepreneur Sigi Wolf was interested in the ÖBAG post. The court saw the corresponding chats that the prosecutors of the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor (WKStA) had submitted as sufficient to support the first instance judgment. The penalty height was imposed by the judge of the first instance « with a sense of proportion ». Bonelli’s punishment is legally binding.
Sebastian Kurz reacts relieved and criticizes the media
The OLG judges should have followed Kurz and its defenders with their saying: from the court’s point of view, he said « nothing wrong », but only « too little », argued the former chancellor on Monday: « How can you punish someone who was interrupted in the middle of the answer? » The video recordings of short, questioning had shown that he had answered the question of his involvement in the supervisory board order, but then the question was over.
In short ‘reacted relieved to the acquittal: For years, the allegations against him had been « celebrated » in the media and now everything had collapsed. He regretted the confirmed guilty verdict against his confidante Bonelli: Anyone who knew him knew « that this is one of the most integrated personalities », according to the ex-ÖVP politician and now company founder and employee of the US-Tech billionaire Peter Thiel.
The decisive procedure against Sebastian Kurz is still running
However, the acquittal only ends a side strand of the numerous investigation around the fallen ex-chancellor. It is still open whether and when it comes to the main procedure – among other things, it is about allegations of infidelity, bribery and bribery against short and numerous more accused from his direct and former environment.
At the end of November last year, the former short confidante Thomas Schmid received a crown witness status-if the facts have to be significantly informed, he can hope for mitigation. Schmid had heavily burdened the former Chancellor in front of the public prosecutor, especially in the cause of alleged advertisement corruption in tabloids.
The allegations also briefly deny here, as for all other in the most extensive corruption affair in Austria’s recent history, the presumption of innocence applies.
