In the Commerzialbank Mattersburg case, the first charges have now been filed with the Eisenstadt Regional Court. A former employee is said to have raised 70,000 euros so that he would not expose bank boss Martin Pucher’s multi-million fraud.
In July 2020, the world collapsed for the customers of Commerzialbank Mattersburg. Your money was gone! Fake loans, ‘air bookings’, withdrawn savings deposits – bank boss Martin Pucher left behind a financial fiasco worth 870 million euros.
Three suspects
The investigation into the complex process has been in full swing for more than three years. The first indictment has now been filed at the Eisenstadt Regional Court, filed by the Public Prosecution Service for Economic and Corruption (WKStA). It is aimed at three suspects. The accusations concern the crime of blackmail or embezzlement in various forms of participation.
Serious threats
In concrete terms, this case concerns a former employee of the Commerzialbank who allegedly extorted hush money. At the end of his employment in 2017, he allegedly threatened to expose Pucher’s fraud. To keep his mouth shut, the employee raised 70,000 euros.
Pucher seriously ill
It is said that the transfer of the money, on the initiative of two board members – probably Pucher and ex-board colleague Franziska K. – caused damage to Commerzialbank. The penalty for extortion is a prison sentence of six months to five years. Embezzlement can result in a prison sentence of up to three years. It remains unclear whether Pucher, who is considered seriously ill, is fit to be questioned.
Everything is checked
The investigations into further proceedings have not yet been completed. The bank’s accountants are suspected, among other things, of incorrectly issuing audit reports regarding Commerzialbank between 2016 and 2018. However, the investigation into 120 recipients of dubious bank gifts in gold and silver has largely been stopped.
Fraud, infidelity, money laundering
Together with SOKO Commerz and the Federal Office for Corruption Prevention and Combating Corruption (BAK), the WKStA is currently investigating 39 suspects, including eleven associations for serious commercial fraud, breach of trust, fraudulent Krida, forgery of accounts, money laundering and various corruption allegations. In the main case alone, 22 suspects and ten associations are targeted by the judiciary. In addition, four more cases are open.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
