For four years he pretended to be a penniless refugee – and got a red-white-red benefit. First the basic needs, then the minimum income. Extrapolated, so a total of about 25,000 euros. He kept to himself that the 35-year-old owns a plot of land worth 120,000 euros at home and also contributes to the income of a lucrative olive plantation. The man is currently in prison, according to the Interior Ministry.
The harvest from the olive grove would have brought him 25,000 euros. Money that a friend sent him in cash to Austria.
The Syrian is currently being held in Innsbruck prison on charges of drug trafficking. The 35-year-old himself stated that he had twice purchased 100 grams of cocaine for Turkish nationals and was allowed to keep ten grams for his own use. He has not benefited financially from it. The exact extent of the damage has not yet been determined, the Interior Ministry said.
4346 suspects arrested last year
The 35-year-old was found based on investigations by the Social Security Task Force and the police. In the previous year alone, the detectives caught 4,346 suspects, almost 14 percent more than in 2020. “Public solidarity becomes fragile when it is exploited. That is why the detectives will continue to act consistently against benefit fraudsters,” explains Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
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.
