Former Minister of Family Affairs Sophie Karmasin is being charged by the Public Prosecution Service for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) with anti-competitive agreements in tendering procedures and serious fraud. These are orders from the Ministry of Sports, which she allegedly obtained with illegal price fixing after her political career. Karmasin is said to have invoiced more than 140,000 euros for studies for the ministry. The 40-page indictment is not yet final.
The indicted 55-year-old, who is represented by law firm Kollmann & Wolm, now has two weeks to file an objection. If she does not, a hearing can be expected in early 2023. The penalty is a maximum of three years in prison. An employee of the Ministry of Sports is also accused.
Karmasin’s lawyers, Lukas Kollmann and Norbert Wess, told the “Krone”: “We can confirm that today we received the indictment from the court. We have not yet been able to study it in detail. However, the allegations are known from the investigation. On the one hand, the continued payment of ministerial salaries, on the other hand, the three investigations at the Ministry of Sport. We are confident that we can present our factual and legal position to the court in detail and assume that the outcome of the procedure will be positive for our client.”
Former pollster Karmasin is also being targeted in connection with the leg scraping device. The investigation by the public prosecutor is still ongoing.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
