Four well-known investigators led by Casag and Co. leave the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) within a short period of time. This defends itself against the image of an escape from authority, partly as a result of internal conflicts.
Key prosecutors are leaving the WKStA in the currently most controversial (political) case: the Casag/Ibiza case. They are moving to other positions, sometimes as judges. Including procedures such as embellished studies and corruption around numerous celebrities such as ex-chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who was convicted in the first instance for making false statements to the U-Commission – not legally binding.
The ‘Krone’ has been reporting for weeks about the bloodletting of the investigation agency. Four well-known investigators have turned their backs on the anti-corruption authority – most recently Bernhard Weratschnig. After 13 years at the WKStA, he applied for the position of chief prosecutor in his hometown of Klagenfurt. Another chief prosecutor moved to the court in St. Pölten, another to The Hague. The WKStA is dissatisfied with the way the authorities portray refugees in the media.
Don’t let colleagues be ‘shot in public’
This is right in the hot phase of numerous investigations initiated by Ibiza and mainly affecting ÖVP people. The case is definitely very political in nature and that is why there is so much attention for it, says public prosecutor Martin Ortner, spokesman for the authority. The ‘Krone’ learned from judicial circles that the well-known lawyers are also disappearing because there is supposedly internal friction with the director, Ilse Vrabl-Sanda. We hear that with 45 public prosecutors it can become even louder.
However, according to Ortner, there can be no question of a poisoned climate. But how can the very complex Casag procedures proceed if the central figures are present? Ortner: “The colleagues involved have completed their lines of investigation. Then new ones take over. In addition to the management, the team consists of seven prosecutors and two economic experts. Nothing has changed in that regard.” Moreover, there was an orderly transition and the departures did not occur spontaneously. We already have a successor for the most recent suspected departure from Weratschnig (the application procedure has not yet been completed). They do not want to mention names yet. They do not want people to be ‘shot in public’.
Schmid is not yet a key witness
The Public Prosecution Service admits, however, that the work in difficult cases is hard. And that they would like to have more staff. “We are currently dealing with 200 cases, 80 of which are major cases. Casag is only a fraction, but it is so publicly relevant.” Speaking of which: It is still not clear whether Thomas Schmid will receive his crown witness status in the trial case against Kurz and Co. (“bone scraping instrument”). A project report is available from the Ministry of Justice. “We don’t know exactly where. We are waiting.”
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.
