One question dominated the second day of the fraud trial involving the ex-Green politician: What influence did the former planning spokesman have on Vienna’s zoning plans? The suspect sees his role clearly defined, but was he able to convey that? The “Krone” was in the “Landl”.
This year, Christoph Chorherr and nine other accused businessmen will spend most of the pre-Christmas period in the grand courtroom of the Vienna Regional Court. The ex-Greens are accused of “bribery” and “abuse of public authority”. According to the prosecutor’s office, during the time of red-green in Vienna, the 61-year-old would have accepted donations to his association “S2Arch” or asked for decisions by the city council on zoning plans.
Flaming presentation of the heart project
On the second day of the trial, Chorherr spoke. He started his plea with a passionate speech about his school project in South Africa: “And why are tree people interested in this project? Because it is also an architectural project,” explains Maria Vassilakou, who was then a close confidant of the town councilor for planning. “I was not the planning consultant, I was the planning spokesperson. Ms. Vassilakou led the zoning process with MA 21. Formally, I couldn’t influence!” he pleaded innocent.
“I feel sorry for everyone sitting here now”
The current wood-fired bakery operator expressed regret on only one point: “My mistake was not stepping down as club president in 2010.” Performances also count in Austria and “not just whether you do everything right” . “I’m sorry for everyone sitting here with me now,” he looked at the nine co-defendants in the front row, including investment adviser Wilhelm Hemetsberger and real estate investors Michael Tojner and Günter Kerbler.
Chorherr tried to talk to the client
Judge Michael Tolstiuk was particularly interested in Chorherr’s role in relation to zoning: “My main activity was to argue publicly why projects look the way they look,” said the accused ex-politician, “I also wanted to be well versed in this to be.” – That’s why he tried to talk to the developers himself.
The defendant had to ask himself hard questions: both about the subsidy settlement of his association and about his relationship with the respective entrepreneurs. Individual donations were also discussed, such as the donation of 100,000 euros from Signa in 2011, as a result of which real estate juggler René Benko is in the dock. Chorherr: “I did not meet Mr. Benko. I had this information from Mr. Hemetsberger. Apparently he was able to persuade him to donate.”
Continued on Friday
The prosecutor asked if he had thanked him for the donations: “Not enough,” Chorherr replied, only to correct himself shortly afterwards: “No, I’m glad I didn’t write anything. I have to be honest now” – went on Friday.
Source: Krone
I’m an experienced news author and editor based in New York City. I specialize in covering healthcare news stories for Today Times Live, helping to keep readers informed on the latest developments related to the industry. I have a deep understanding of medical topics, including emerging treatments and drugs, the changing laws that regulate healthcare providers, and other matters that affect public health.
