“Not in Austria that day”: Schmidt cancels his testimony in the short trial

2023-11-03 11:49:00

The eagerly awaited statement by ex-ÖBAG boss Thomas Schmid in the trial against ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and his former head of cabinet Bernhard Bonelli for making false statements in the U-Committee has been postponed. Schmid, who was invited to appear on November 17th, apologized, as a court spokeswoman for the APA confirmed a corresponding report in the “Kurier”.

Schmid was not in Austria on that day and was therefore not “unavailable”. Instead of him, former ÖBB CFO Arnold Schiefer, who is close to the FPÖ, will be asked about the process of filling the ÖBAG supervisory board. Schmid should then have his turn on one of the next days of the negotiations – either December 11th or 15th.

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Kurz and Bonelli are accused by the WKStA of having given false evidence as informants before the U-Committee, particularly in connection with the establishment of ÖBAG and the composition of the board and supervisory board of this company. Former casino boss Bettina Glatz-Kremsner, who was also accused of making false statements on another issue, took up the offer of diversion on the first day of the trial.