Former chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) has to answer for false testimony as two confidants. The suspect remains relaxed as his camp. You don’t understand “theatre”. The prosecutors are on “shaky feet”.
So now it’s official. After about three years of investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA), the long-awaited is certain: ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) must answer to court for alleged false statements in the Ibiza U committee. He was not telling the truth about the occupation of ÖBAG’s main post. Three years in prison. Short is impeccable. If he is convicted, he will not go to prison. Experienced detectives smugly speak of “three days of television ban”. Talk about three. Despite the long prelude, the main act is only scheduled for three days. Trial starts on October 18, first verdict on October 23.
Holidaymaker Sebastian Kurz is relaxed
In addition to Kurz, his former chief of staff Bernhard Bonelli and former Kurz confidant and casino manager Bettina Glatz-Kremsner must also answer for false statements. Kurz is on vacation. And is relaxed. He is convinced that the allegations will go up in smoke in court. In effect, the prosecutors are taking a risk.
Because in addition to the objective proof of the false statement on information in the investigative committee and in chats, the WKStA must prove intent. From the ex-chancellor’s camp one hears accusations with “legs of clay”, as ÖVP general Christian Stocker puts it. Moreover, one does not understand the “theatre”. “It’s not about mass murder and it’s not about war crimes.” The allegations are fabricated. A “purely semantic debate based on four hours of statements before the committee, with MPs choosing what suits them for an advertisement.” In fact, the question is whether Kurz was “involved” or “informed” in June 2020. said “no” or “yes”.
Nevertheless, this walk in court is of enormous symbolism. The Turquoise Age is now finally on the judiciary’s dissecting table. A first-instance conviction against former Family Affairs Minister Sophie Karmasin on a side issue was the first harbinger.
Strache & Thomas Schmid are invited as witnesses
What might weigh more heavily are the allegations against Kurz and nine other people in the “leg scraper” case. Dubious published studies on taxpayer costs. This is about infidelity and bribery, up to ten years in prison. The presumption of innocence applies to all suspects.
First of all false statements. Ex-Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache and potential star witness Thomas Schmid have been invited as witnesses. Richter is the former prosecutor in the Eurofighter trial – Michael Radasztics is considered a confidant of the revealer Peter Pilz. The ex-politician prefers to target ÖVP politicians.
“The Ice Is Thin”
The Graz criminal expert Gerald Ruhri, who is not involved in any of the proceedings, sees great dangers for the suspects in trials for false statements. “The ice is thin. It’s not about the number of defense witnesses, it’s about who the single judge believes. It’s about the strength of his single evidence assessment.
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.
