He likes to sing, but now Jailhouse Rock is more “in”: the Member of Parliament and ex-local head of Scharten is in prison in Suben. He spends his daily life next to criminals of the worst kind.
In any case, he is not lonely: almost 290 prisoners are currently serving their sentences together with former ÖVP member of parliament and former mayor of Scharten Jürgen Höckner (56) in Suben prison.
A colorful mix is guaranteed: in addition to the former black local politician, there are also several “lifers” behind the walls of the former Augustinian monastery. These used to be housed in Garsten, Stein or Graz-Karlau.
“Usually there are no problems with life sentences”
“Since Garsten is also used for the placement of mentally deviant offenders, we have a number of ‘life sentences’ with us. But they are usually not a problem, because 95 percent of murders happen in the family setting, so strangers are not affected,” says the head of the Suben facility, Gerdkatzelberger.
At least 18 months in prison as a requirement
In principle, the convicts must have received a total sentence of more than 18 months in order to “be allowed” to go to Suben. In addition to the historic walls, the penitentiary on the banks of the Inn certainly has some “service” to offer. For example, the detainees have a visitor account of up to seven hours per month, which, according to Katzelberger, is well above the legal limit. A maximum of two hours can be “consumed” at a time because the visiting areas are very popular.
How long should Höckner sit?
Looking back makes sense: on October 4, 2021, he was not legally sentenced to seven and a half years in prison by the Wels Regional Court for triple rape, sexual harassment and libel. The party friends nevertheless stood by him: In October 2022, Höckner received an honorary certificate from the state government headed by ÖVP state councilor Michaela Langer-Weninger.
OGH rejected the nullity complaint
In November, the Supreme Court rejected Höckner’s appeal for nullity, making the conviction final. On November 21, 2022, the Linz Higher Regional Court reduced the sentence by six months to seven years of unconditional imprisonment.
In the summer of 2026, the prison gates could open for him
Once a criminal has served half of his sentence, he is released from prison if it can be assumed that he will not commit another crime. Höckner – he has been behind bars since March – would therefore not be allowed to breathe unfiltered air again until the late summer of 2026 at the earliest.
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.
