When the judge calls – but the defendant does not have to follow: If a defendant is considered ill, long-term or short-term, he does not have to appear at his trial. And that also applies to the former head of Commerzialbank Mattersburg, Martin Pucher. The “Krone” asked lawyer Sascha Flatz how long someone cannot stand trial.
The time has come on January 23: the first trial in the Commerzialbank Mattersburg case will take place in Eisenstadt. The indictment reads like a crime novel: malpractice, blackmail and a lot of missing money. Pucher is accused of giving 70,000 euros from the bank’s treasury to a former employee who threatened to chat. Now the process will begin, but without the main character.
Pucher is exempted from trial with a medical report, but he explicitly agrees to a trial in absentia, as he announced through his lawyer Norbert Wess. But it’s not always that easy.
Unable to bargain for life?
If a suspect is unable to attend his trial due to a short or long-term illness, the trial must be postponed until he is fit to stand trial again – which may never be the case.
The ‘Krone’ asked lawyer Sascha Flatz how long the escape strategy works in court and when you are considered unfit to stand trial.
You can see the background and explanation in the video above!
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
