The Public Prosecution Service for Economic Affairs and Corruption has filed charges against five other suspects in the Commerzialbank case. Two former bank managers and three entrepreneurs will now be tried.
“Former CEO and co-board member” Martin Pucher and Franziska K. are “accused of embezzlement of bank funds, breach of trust, fraudulent Krida, etc.,” the WKStA announced on Monday. Based on the results of the study, parts of the study would be stopped.
Investigations continue
According to the WKStA, further investigations against other suspects in the case are ongoing. According to their statement, three entrepreneurs are also accused of issuing fictitious invoices and receiving money.
Damage amount approximately 70 million eurosO
The indictment is part of the ongoing criminal proceedings following the bankruptcy of Commerzialbank Mattersburg im Burgenland AG (Commercial Bank Mattersburg for short). The damage caused by the allegations in the indictment totals around 70 million euros. The penalty for embezzlement, breach of trust and fraudulent Krida is one to ten years in prison.
The two former board members of the bank are accused of, among other things, embezzlement, breach of trust and fraudulent Krida. The WKStA said they allegedly embezzled almost 40 million euros in bank funds and illegally sent them to companies in their area using fictitious invoices. They are also said to have provided loans to these companies for a total of more than 30 million euros, even though these were not economically justifiable and insufficiently secured.
Pucher has already been convicted for the first time
Last Tuesday, Pucher was convicted in absentia for the first time. Pucher and vice-chairman K. were accused of embezzlement and the bank’s former representative had to answer for blackmail.
Pucher and K. were sentenced by the lay judges to eleven and eight months in prison respectively, of which three years were conditional. Officer H. got away with a suspended prison sentence of 16 months. He must also pay the extorted 70,000 euros to the curator and a fine of 9,600 euros. The statements are not legally binding.
Source: Krone
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