After the suspected misconduct at Energie Ried became known, the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Economic Affairs and Corruption (WKStA) and the State Criminal Police Office are continuing to investigate the former managing directors of Energie Ried on suspicion of serious fraud and data manipulation. Among other things, the natural gas network is said to have been significantly extended on paper over many years in order to receive excessive payments via the regulatory authority E-Control. The presumption of innocence applies to the duo.
The whole thing has long since reached political dimensions: the company is owned by the municipality of Ried. The company still has around 30 million euros in reserves up its sleeve. How much is left until a legally binding conclusion of this affair, no one can judge today. So far it is known that it could be up to seven million euros. However, the sum relates to the current regulatory period of E-Control since 2015.
According to OÖN information, the WKStA is no longer only interested in the former management, many political protocols are also examined in detail. That should be a cause for nervousness for one or the other (ex-)politician. Above all, the role of Albert Ortig – as a former mayor he was the general assembly of Energie Ried – could still be important in the investigation.
In a report from 2014, the Federal Court of Auditors had already criticized the city policy. The municipal council’s audit committee also has to monitor the management of the city-owned companies – but this did not happen in relation to Energie Ried, at least from 2009 to 2012. Even when a support and controlling contract was signed with the city’s finance director in 2014 – endowed with around 1000 euros per month – the alleged malversations remained hidden.
The investigators are said to be keenly interested in why this controlling apparently failed in relation to Energie Ried. (tst/sedi)
Source: Nachrichten
