Braunau tax office: Ex-official speaks of interventions

According to the Economic and Corruption Public Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA), he is said to have intervened as a member of parliament for the appointment of an ÖVP mayor to the board of the tax office. The ex-employee will be questioned in the COFAG investigative committee on Wednesday. During her interview by the WKStA in April 2022, the then head of department of Section IV (tax policy and tax law) was asked about her perceptions regarding the appointment of the board of the Braunau tax office. According to the interrogation protocol, the then board of directors of the large company audit informed her at a meeting in spring 2017 that the ÖVP man should become head of the tax office.

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According to her colleague, the chairman of the commission that, according to the Federal Administrative Court, arbitrarily discriminated against the best applicant, spoke freely about this appointment, which had already been determined in advance. She then asked the man personally about the “rumor” and said that it couldn’t be determined in advance who would be the head of the tax office. The answer: “Yes, what should I do, I have to do it like this.” She didn’t find out more specific reasons.

Wöginger himself, who is suspected of having intervened, was also not named, the woman said when she was questioned by the WKStA. Just this much: “It was common knowledge that Mag. M. had close ties to the ÖVP Upper Austria.” He also said this himself at meetings. Furthermore, the high official is said to have spoken of “Gust” several times – “it was clear to me from the context that he meant August Wöginger.”

Schmid incriminates Wöginger

The former Secretary General in the Ministry of Finance and later ÖBAG boss Thomas Schmid had already incriminated Wöginger. According to the interrogation protocol, Schmid stated that the current ÖVP club boss had “concretely campaigned” for the mayor to become the head of the tax office. “I supported this cause for Wöginger because it was such an important matter to him and, in turn, a good relationship with Wöginger was important to me.”

Wöginger himself has not seen any wrongdoing since the allegations emerged. “Of course I was happy that someone from my region was chosen for the position,” said the now ÖVP club boss after Schmid’s statements became known. He “always considered the mayor to be a qualified and suitable candidate for this position.” But he didn’t have any influence.

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