The public prosecutor’s office has started investigations in connection with events in the context of military officer training at the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt. According to Erich Habitzl, spokesman for the Wiener Neustadt prosecutor, there are suspicions of torture, coercion and abuse of office. According to information from Monday, the suspect is the course leader, who, according to the army, is still on duty.
The allegations were made in a statement of facts available to the APA. This was initially sent to the Economic and Corruption Public Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) and from there it was forwarded to the public prosecutor’s office in Wiener Neustadt.
Officer cadet in “prisoner of war”
Essentially, it is about leadership training as part of the so-called military officer course. In a training scenario not covered by the curriculum, a kind of war captivity of ensigns (a military rank, note) is said to have taken place in February for training purposes, according to the accusation.
The consent of those affected was never obtained, and there was also no possibility of withdrawing from the training. The description of the facts reports, among other things, “specific and permanent stress” on February 16 and 17, the ensigns were treated inhumanely and “exhausted and tortured”.
Instructor still on duty
According to Habitzl, the head of the course is being investigated for abuse of office, coercion and torture, as well as suspected endangerment of physical safety, deprivation of liberty and dangerous threats. Degrading treatment under Section 35 of the Military Penal Code is also in the room. An investigation order has been available since November 9th, it was emphasized. Two superiors of the course director had also been reported. In these two cases, no investigations were initiated.
According to federal army spokesman Michael Bauer, the course leader is still on duty. “Investigations are exclusively the responsibility of the public prosecutor’s office,” with which “they work closely,” said Bauer. Administrative assistance was requested, which will also be complied with. “Behaviour in captivity is part of the curriculum,” said Bauer on ORF. “It was training that is part of officer training, standard training.” The training unit has been practiced in this form at the military academy for years, including under the trainer now accused, according to Bauer.
Source: Nachrichten
