Image: Julian Stratenschulte (dpa)
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, several suspected cases of fraud were uncovered during the promotion of the repair bonus. The cases were discovered as part of the ongoing checks of the participating companies, as stated in a broadcast on Sunday. 36 companies have already been reported to the Austrian public prosecutor. “The companies are almost exclusively mobile phone shops. 31 are based in Vienna, two in Styria, one company each in Carinthia, Lower Austria and Tyrol,” according to the ministry.
There are currently another 20 companies suspected of fraud. These cases are currently being prepared for reporting. Participation in the repair bonus was immediately suspended for all reported or suspicious companies. The total amount of damage will only be determined in the course of the investigation.
“Totally Otherworldly”
“It is completely otherworldly to enrich yourself with a funding project that supports so many people in the country well,” said Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens). The reported cases “deserved the full harshness of the law.” Subsidies received unlawfully must be repaid or a legal action will be taken.
Around 3,500 partner companies are currently taking part in the repair bonus campaign, including around 800 in the field of mobile phone shops. 548,000 applications with funding of 56.2 million euros have already been approved. Among the top devices for which a repair bonus is requested, smartphones and mobile phones (263,060 receipts) are in first place, followed by dishwashers (52,288), washing machines (49,259), espresso and coffee machines (47,303) and laptops (27,462).
Source: Nachrichten
