Short process: WKStA wants to hear at least 18 witnesses

2023-08-21 09:57:00

The economic and corruption prosecutor (WKStA) wants to question at least 18 people, including extremely prominent people such as ex-FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache and two former finance ministers.

The WKStA has brought charges against Kurz for making false statements in the Ibiza U Committee. In addition, Bernhard Bonelli, who was among other things head of cabinet in the Federal Chancellery under Kurz, and the former ÖVP deputy party leader Bettina Glatz-Kremsner, until March 2022 general director of Casinos Austria and CEO of Austrian Lotteries, have to answer for the same crime.

Kurz and Bonelli are accused of having made false statements as persons providing information to the investigative committee, particularly in connection with the questioning about the establishment of ÖBAG and the composition of the board of directors and supervisory board of this company. Glatz-Kremsner is said to have made false statements both before the investigative committee and when she was questioned as a witness in the WKStA’s investigation into the appointment of a member of the Management Board of Casinos Austria AG.

Sebastian Kurz has already rejected the allegations as incorrect. Glatz-Kremsner is also assuming a “positive outcome”. She was confident that she would be able to fully present her point of view in court, she said recently. This is possible from October 18th. The process begins on this day. October 20th and 23rd have already been fixed as negotiation days.

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But already in the broadcast of the regional court last week, “for the time being” was added to the dates. There is a good chance that a few more will come along – if only because of the number of witnesses. The prosecution has requested the summons of 18 people. For three other witnesses, statements are requested to be read out. It is of course still unclear whether some of these will ultimately be dispensed with. However, the program could also become even denser if further witness interviews are requested in the main hearing.

In any case, the interrogation of Thomas Schmid, whose appointment as ÖBAG boss is the central topic of the cause, is planned. Two former ÖVP finance ministers are also to be questioned, namely Hartwig Löger and Gernot Blümel. Kurz will probably also meet the former Vice Chancellor in the courtroom: Heinz-Christian Strache is also planned to be charged.

Also on the list is Peter Sidlo, whose appointment to the Casinos Austria board was somewhat controversial, as well as the industrialist Siegfried Wolf and ex-Raiffeisen General Advocate Walter Rothensteiner. The latter was also Casinos supervisory board chairman. Short consultant Stefan Steiner would also like to hear from the WKStA. Helmut Kern, the former head of the ÖBAG supervisory board, other people from the holding company or the Ministry of Finance and the FPÖ club director should also answer questions.

Further applications from the public prosecutor’s office could also be challenging in terms of time. Numerous readings of various files are also desired – and the demonstrations of the audio recordings of the statements of the accused before the investigation committee.