The accused private detective in the Vienna court has drawn up a warning list of companies that would have paid for positive registrations. He demanded 300 euros for cancellation – and is now surprised that he ended up in criminal court…
“I expected civil lawsuits that I would have won. But I was very surprised that I was suspected of extortion.” He cannot understand why the private detective is now in the Vienna court.
Accused of aggravated racketeering
According to the indictment, he maintained an online list of companies that allegedly paid for positive Google reviews. In a letter to the 189 companies, the 49-year-old demanded that they pay him 300 euros and issue a strike statement. Then he’d take her off the list – heavy blackmail for the prosecution.
The defendant sees the letter as a contract offer
But the private detective sees it very differently: “It was a purely civil contract offer!” None of the companies had taken that seriously. “How do you think you have claims?” asks Judge Philipp Schnabel. “I have the right to maintain this list. If someone doesn’t want me to exercise my rights, they have to pay me,” the accused tries to explain – for him it is convincing – and only gets surprised looks.
Private detective not insightful
Judge Schnabel tries to make it clear: “You can’t offer a burglar money so that you don’t report him. That is also blackmail.” The private investigator considers himself innocent: “If you see legal action as a threat, I don’t know what to do.”
However, the court rules that his actions were anything but legal: he is sentenced to 20 months in prison, which is not final.
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.
