Today Thomas Schmid testifies in court against Sebastian Kurz (krone.at taps live from 9:30 am). The defense’s strategy is to undermine Schmid’s credibility. How the lawyers want to do it.
Thomas Schmid’s nervousness level will be high. Today he has to appear in court and testify – as a witness for the prosecution in the trial of Sebastian Kurz for making false statements in the U-Commission. Kurz’s ex-confidant is obliged to tell the truth. There is no dismissal law such as with the U-Commission.
New chat aims to damage Schmid’s credibility
The former ambitious secretary general, who was crowned head of the state holding company ÖBAG in 2019, has not yet achieved Schmid’s goal of becoming a key witness. The main requirement for leniency status is credibility. His statements must be watertight. Schmid must convince judge Michael Radasztics that Kurz, then as chancellor, had the final say on the appointment as ÖBAG boss.
The credibility of the candidate for key witness is the biggest target. We hear from legal circles that they may suffer damage during the trial. New chats must be offered that cannot be found in the research files. The news is intended to underline that Schmid does not take the truth seriously.
Bribed with luxury cars?
Not only Kurz is doing everything he can to undermine Schmid’s credibility, but also nightclub owner Ronny Pecik. Schmid told the WKStA that he had been bribed with tailor-made suits and luxury cars that he had borrowed from Pecik. “The accusations are based on false statements,” says lawyer Norbert Wess.
There would be “huge doubts” about Schmid’s credibility, because Schmid stated in one of the interviews at the WKStA that “no one knew, except me and Pecik, that I always got the cars from him for free”. Schmid’s chat history, but also the statements of Schmid’s friends for the WKStA, showed the opposite. Schmid made no secret of who he borrowed the luxury cars from.
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.
