Thomas Schmid is still waiting for star witness status. He also said things that could jeopardize his ambition.
Key witness – those who expose themselves will not have to face prison time, but instead have to aggressively approach prosecutors, make remorseful confessions and do new things. This is also how it works for Thomas Schmid, who identified himself as a key witness for the WKStA in various corruption cases. Nearly two years after Schmid officially applied for status, there is still no decision. Why? The WKStA, which wants Schmid as a key witness, had to adjust a report from May. The latest project report reached the Ministry of Justice in August. Once the assessment is completed, it will be sent to the Instruction Council. As an advisory body to the ministry, he is responsible for ‘noisy’ matters.
Lawyers suspect skepticism at the Ministry of Justice
The case is special. The lawyers of suspects such as ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz want to undermine Schmid’s credibility and argue that the ex-Öbag boss and Kurz confidante has made false statements several times and that the procedure in which he made incriminating statements has been stopped . Most recently the one against ex-President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka in connection with the “Dr. Erwin Pröll Foundation”. Ex-General of Finance Schmid apparently wrongly spoke about attempts to interfere in tax matters.
“It is incomprehensible that someone who has told untruths several times can pass as a key witness,” say lawyers who were not involved. They suspect that the review of the leniency status is taking so long because the ministry is not yet completely convinced.
Klaus Ainedter, who is defending co-suspected ex-Kurz communications director Gerald Fleischmann, believes that Schmid generally cannot be a key witness because he was already a suspect to the authorities before he had unpacked his belongings.
The comparison with the first key witness in Austria is interesting. Gernot Schieszler was given status in the Telekom process in 2013. “Here, the prosecutors painstakingly put all the pieces together and only proposed it when everything was watertight for them. “It took a while, but then the status was established,” says a lawyer. With Schmid it was the other way around – “here the WKStA quickly decided on the wishes of key witness Schmid. But apparently people at the Ministry of Justice are skeptical.”
Recoveries run into the millions
But one thing is also certain: the judge in the trial for making false statements against Kurz testified to Schmid’s absolute credibility. One reason why other experts think Schmid would get the status. If that were to happen, the proceedings against Kurz and nine other defendants in the ‘Embellished Studies’ case in Wolfgang Fellner’s ‘Austria’ would gain even more momentum.
In addition, the Republic has joined this criminal case against Schmid and two other suspects through the financial public prosecutor’s office. These are recoveries that run into millions. It is unlikely that Schmid will be able to do this. However, recovery is also a condition for clemency status.
So there are many open questions. The case will continue for some time. The presumption of innocence applies to all persons mentioned.
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.
