In the Cobra affair involving two bodyguards of Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), the abuse of office investigations against him – involving allegations of intervention – were dropped last year. One of the two officials involved has now been sentenced to disciplinary action and a fine of 6,000 euros.
According to the “Presse” report, the federal disciplinary authority had to clarify whether the bodyguard had violated his official duties. After drinking a few alcoholic drinks, he caused an accident with the chancellor’s family’s commercial vehicle, causing damage to the fender. An alcohol content of 0.60 mg/l (1.2 permille of alcohol in the blood) was found.
Driving license revoked for six months
The man’s driver’s license was revoked for almost six months and he was sentenced to a fine of 1,200 euros in an administrative criminal trial. The police officer, who is no longer with Cobra, has confessed and shown remorse to the federal disciplinary authority. Authorities say the man violated his official duties. Public servants are obliged to take into account in their conduct the need to maintain public confidence in the objective performance of their official duties.
Authorities considered driving a vehicle under the influence the most serious violation of official duties. Here, for general preventive reasons, a fine should be imposed to make it clear “that driving under the influence will not be tolerated”. However, the civil servant was remorseful, confessed, had no previous disciplinary rights and had excellent job descriptions. Therefore, the fine of 6,000 euros was “appropriate to the crime and the guilt”.
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.
