Causa Energie Ried: City boss Zwielehner and deputy mayor are probably going on the counteroffensive

Ried’s mayor Bernhard Zwielehner (ÖVP) and his deputies Peter Stummer (SPÖ) and Thomas Dim (FPÖ) invite you to a press conference on the subject of “Report from the State Audit Office on various allegations against politically responsible people regarding decisions regarding energy in Ried” on Friday, April 19th.

It can be assumed that the trio will present and quote excerpts from the State Audit Office’s report. Around a year ago, the Ried public prosecutor’s office, as reported, began investigating Zwielehner and the deputy mayor on suspicion of breach of trust. The economic and corruption public prosecutor’s office (WKStA) handed over an 800-page file to the Ried public prosecutor’s office as part of its investigations against the two former managing directors of Energie Ried. In these documents, several alleged criminal offenses by political leaders were highlighted. Among other things, it involves the appointment of the current managing director Friedrich Pöttinger and a donation from Energie Ried GmbH to the Volkskundehaus.

The LRH does not come to the conclusion that the general assembly of Energie Ried, consisting of the city manager and his deputies, made grossly negligent or consciously wrong decisions. It is very likely that the public prosecutor’s investigation, which has no connection with the LRH report, will soon be discontinued. However, the process is not officially over yet.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Zwielehner, Stummer and Dim go on the counteroffensive at tomorrow’s press conference. “It is time for us to present our view of things, because the truth is now coming to light little by little,” said Zwielehner on Wednesday when asked by OÖNachrichten.