The former Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance and former head of the state holding company ÖBAG, Thomas Schmid, is due to appear in court as a witness for the second time on Friday. It will probably be a difficult question, because now it is the turn of the prosecutors.
Schmid’s interrogation in the trial of ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) for making false statements in the Ibiza investigative committee could not be completed on Monday. On the second day it is the turn of the Public Prosecution Service for Economic and Corruption (WKStA) to ask questions.
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The defense was allowed to ask questions first
To the surprise of many observers, the chairman, Michael Radasztic, granted a defense request and had Schmid interrogated for the prosecution. Due to the length of the hearing, the hearing was postponed. Schmid should provide information about whether positions in the state holding company ÖBAG have been agreed with Kurz.
On the first day of his interrogation, Schmid contradicted the former Chancellor and stated that hardly anything was done in occupying the ÖBAG supervisory board without the consent of Kurz and his former chief of staff Bernhard Bonelli – he is accused of the same crime. The defense in turn tried to portray Schmid, who is seeking the status of key witness in the ÖVP poll case, as unreliable.
Blümel won’t arrive until January
Former Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) was originally invited as a witness on Friday, but now it will be his turn in January. Next Monday it will be the turn of another former ÖVP Finance Minister, Hartwig Löger.
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.
