National Council chairman Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) is defending himself against incriminating statements made against him by former Secretary-General of Finance Thomas Schmid. Schmid stated in his statement that Sobotka had successfully intervened with the “Alois Mock Foundation or the Alois Mock Institute” and the “Erwin Proell Foundation” for tax audits. Sobotka speaks of “blackening out” to obtain leniency status.
“It was then arranged in the sense of Mag. Sobotka,” said Schmid according to the interrogation protocol of the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA).
“Blackout” to obtain leniency status
Sobotka sees it differently: “If someone has apparently been trying desperately for months to obtain leniency, then all means are appropriate to achieve extenuating circumstances in determining his sentence. Blackmailing political decision-makers guarantees maximum media attention. The allegations against me are completely unfounded and I strongly reject them.” Sobotka told the “Kurier” that he would “legally sue Schmid”.
Schmid: WKStA instead of U-committee
Sobotka, who is also chairman of the ÖVP’s Commission of Inquiry, finds it “extremely annoying” that Schmid also rejected the parliamentary relief, because: “Anyone who finds time in Graz for a total of 15 days to answer questions from the WKStA could and duty of truth should have answered the questions of the deputies in the Committee of Inquiry. This image speaks for itself and clearly shows what the truth is about.”
Sobotka chaired the Alois Mock Institute, which was also a subject on the investigative committee several times. The club, which was in the news because of payments from the game group Novomatic, has now been dissolved.
It recently became known that the tax office Lilienfeld St. Pölten – apparently without a mandate from the Ministry of Finance – conducted an income investigation for the fake institute, which, however, was initially not forwarded to the investigation committee of the ÖVP.
Source: Krone
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