The Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) is investigating former MEP Paul Rübig (VP) on suspicion of inciting abuse of office, reports “Der Standard”. It’s about the Silberstein cause.
The political advisor Tal Silberstein was involved in a bribery scandal in Israel in 2017 and was then dismissed by SP leader Christian Kern as campaign leader in the National Council election campaign.
Rübig is said to have addressed Thomas Schmid, then Secretary General in the Ministry of Finance, and asked in a chat whether there was “something against Silberstein in Austria too”. Schmid is said to have forwarded the request to Finance Minister Hans Jörg Schelling (VP) and Section Head Eduard Müller.
Rübig, who has not been in the EU Parliament since 2019, “would not have had the right to request such information,” according to a statement by the WKStA. The authority states that there are “currently no indications of a subsequent provision of information”. Rübig’s lawyer rejects all allegations. It is the presumption of innocence.
Source: Nachrichten
