Thomas Schmid’s interrogations provide special insights into successful interventions in tax and friend management. The focus is on industrialist Siegfried Wolf and former Finance Minister Hans Jörg Schelling.
Important things can take care of themselves. Illustrated by the Schmid minutes, the interpretations of the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) and the warning words of the Federal President. The focus is on industrialist Siegfried Wolf, among others. Schmid is in charge of him, as is ex-ÖVP Finance Minister Hans Jörg Schelling, whose general secretary he was (2015-2017). He paints a clear picture of Wolf’s interventions (see graph above), who deal very well with Schelling.
This instructed Schmid to satisfy Wolf’s fiscal greed. “I felt pressured by Wolf’s interventions.” From 2016, there was “intensive cooperation between the cabinet and Wolf’s tax advisers”, the investigators say. Also says Schmid, who would like to become a star witness.
Wolf paid no taxes from 2006 to 2011. Instead of paying eleven million euros in arrears, there were seven. Wolf wanted more: an interest rate cut of 700,000 euros. A head of the tax office approved 630,000 euros – received a desired item. That was in 2018, when Sebastian Kurz was already chancellor. Wolf had strongly supported his campaign. Investigators suspect bribery in the tax case. Schelling is about abuse of office. The presumption of innocence applies to all suspects. “The support for Wolf was very important to Schelling,” says Schmid.
The researchers also found traces of bribery in the Schelling winery. The ex-minister not only offered Novomatic 1000 bottles of wine (see chart above), but also supplied Wolf. Schmid revealed to the WKStA that Schelling likes to communicate about his wines. The former chief of staff could not say whether he also supplied Wolf.
Wine blissful silence and insulting ex-chancellor
But Wolf could. Namely in the Ibiza U Committee. At the request of Jan Krainer (SPÖ), who also sniffed the trail of wine, Wolf said: “There were a few hundred bottles. Value 3000 to 4000 euros. The wine was good.” Wolf does not want to comment at the moment and Schelling is also silent.
Unlike other main characters. Sebastian Kurz, who is relieved to see a tape recording of a conversation with Schmid, wants to take legal action against him. The chairman of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP), who was also accused, also wants to defend himself.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
