The Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) has secured data in the Federal Chancellery (BKA) in connection with the ÖVP inquiry affair. The authority said on Tuesday that data had been collected that should have been secured as early as last summer. The Vienna Regional Court had previously rejected the Chancellery’s objection to the measure.
According to the WKStA, the action was carried out together with IT experts from the judiciary and two officials from the Federal Office for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption (BAK). The data had already been backed up in March. For example, it contains emails from the Federal Chancellery “which are important for clarifying the facts of the case in the preliminary investigation”, as explained: “Since several suspects had almost completely deleted their email inboxes, it was necessary to clarify deleted Secure data now delete this way.
Information about desired awards
In mid-August, the WKStA had requested that all electronic data of the people who worked for the BKA in public relations and strategic communication be secured from December 2017 to October 2021. By examining the data of possible communication partners, the corruption hunters now hope to obtain information through roundabout about the award of contracts and the use of research results.
Due to “intermediate knowledge” it was also necessary to secure additional evidence, it was said. Acting now was urgent as the archives were about to be routinely deleted due to IT requirements. According to media reports, the seizure was objected to so that the data would initially be sealed in court.
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.
