Before the verdict was delivered in the short trial, it was a case of statement against statement. A Russian claimed that Schmid was telling an untruth.
Things heated up one last time in the Grand Jury Courtroom on Friday. A poor interpreter, the suspicion of the Public Prosecution Service for Economic Affairs and Corruption that Thomas Schmid had been “set up” and an original careless error by Schmid in his CV dominated the last hours before the verdict was pronounced.
Schmid’s credibility tested
What was it about? The focus was on a meeting between key witness candidate Schmid and two Russian managers in Amsterdam. This has little to do with the accusation of making false statements, but Schmid’s credibility was tested: Schmid is said to have complained about the pressure from the researchers during this job interview for an oil project. In addition, he allegedly confided to the Russians that he was testifying in accordance with the WKStA, although this was not always the case.
The second Russian witness was questioned via video link between Vienna and the Austrian embassy in Moscow. Unfortunately the translation was not optimal.
The Russian explained that Schmid had said the investigation in Austria would make his life uncomfortable because he would have to testify against colleagues. “Based on his life experience and his skills,” he read “between the lines” that he wanted to make a deal with the Public Prosecution Service.” Because Schmid said; “Let him be good to those who are good to him.”
“That is the untruth”
Former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had brought an interpreter into the courtroom to point out gaps in the translation. Kurz’s lawyer Otto Dietrich “saved” the Russian’s statement by making a few clarifications – for example, that Schmid said all these sentences and was not just an interpretation of the Russian. Schmid, who was also connected via video, denied all the Russian’s claims. “That’s the untruth.” All he said was that he was cooperating with the authorities. The WKStA sensed a “trap set for Schmid”.
The punch line at the end was Schmid’s admission of guilt that his claim in his resume that he had helped negotiate a hostage rescue was a careless mistake.
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.
