The former driver of former FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache had to appear before the Vienna Regional Court on Monday for providing false evidence in the expenses affair. He stated that he had given false testimony because of an emotional blockage: distraction in the form of a fine of 6,600 euros.
“My client has admitted the facts and accepts responsibility,” surprised lawyer Meinhard Novak at the start of the trial against the former driver and bodyguard of ex-Vice Chancellor Strache. The 56-year-old is before the judge of the Vienna Regional Court. The trained watchmaker is accused of providing false evidence in connection with the FPÖ expenses affair.
“Were you aware of the conversion of the invoices?” he was asked by the police as a witness at the time, to which he replied: “I was asked by the HC to do this in 2010, but I have always refused to do so.”
“Yes, it happened”
“The evaluation clearly showed that the suspect had brought in such invoices,” the prosecutor said at the start of the trial. The defendant, who belonged to the close circle of the former FPÖ leader, does not contradict this. “Yes, it happened. I have also presented similar calculations to Mr Strache. But not to enrich myself.”
Private invoices for non-documentable payments
“He was part of the environment that was constantly evolving with HC. Wherever the circus went, the riders had to pay. HC had no credit card and no money in his pocket,” said lawyer Novak. To ensure that expenses for which no invoice existed could also be invoiced, conversions were performed. It is said that private guest bills have been brought in, as replacement bills, so to speak. The party is also said to have paid for private expenses – which the former party leader rejects. “Strache did not stumble over the Ibiza video, but over the expense affair,” says lawyer Novak in Landl.
Payment in five installments
The infidelity investigations against his client were dropped – apparently due to the statute of limitations. The process ends on Monday with a diversion, i.e. a fine for the ex-driver. He agrees to pay 6,600 euros plus 200 euros in procedural costs in five installments. The procedure is temporarily halted and he remains innocent. The public prosecutor can file a complaint against the diversion within 14 days.
Source: Krone
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