The federal disciplinary authority had not yet taken a decision on Wednesday about the suspension of the head of the department of the Ministry of Justice, Christian Pilnacek. According to APA information, the hearing was adjourned to April 27. The competent authority checks whether the reasons for the suspension issued by the Ministry of Justice and most recently confirmed by the administrative court (VwGH) are still valid. Pilnacek again denied the allegations on Wednesday.
Pilnacek was released in February 2021 on several charges. Among other things, he would have revealed a house search and “told” official secrets to a journalist. In addition, he is said to have advised the then Chief of Cabinet of the Ministry of Finance via chat message to appeal against a house search by the Public Prosecution Service for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) of the Ministry of Finance and to file a complaint. against the responsible clerks.
“Purely Friendly Exchange”
Everything was a purely friendly exchange, Pilnacek assured, according to the Ö1 “Mittagsjournal”, during the hearing before the disciplinary authority on Wednesday. He denied that it could have been legal advice to a finance minister’s close associate. In this case, it would have taken the official route without his intervention.
Section chief defends himself: sloppy evaluation
According to Ö1, Pilnacek again criticized the investigations against him. His mobile phone was judged sloppy and incomplete, which would create a one-sided image. He has been wrongly suspended.
A long way back to the office
With the decision of the disciplinary authority, the case will probably not be over: Pilnacek could not return to work until the final decision was made – against the first decision, the appeal to the administrative court took about a year.
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.
