After the public prosecutor’s office initiated an investigation into breach of trust on Tuesday, the chairman of the supervisory board, Johann Marihart, made his position available yesterday. This was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, which is responsible for the riding school, which is 100 percent owned by the federal government, in a broadcast yesterday. Ulrich Herzog will take his place on an interim basis.
Marihart is accused of having his daughter’s horse ridden by employees of the riding school at company expense. This became known after media reports in November of the previous year, in which former employees of the riding school reported on the events.
In the meantime, the former chief rider Klaus Krzich submitted a statement of the facts to the law enforcement authorities, and there is also a second statement of facts from an anonymous source. After an examination, the prosecution assumes that there is sufficient suspicion and started the investigation on Tuesday.
The other accused have not yet been confirmed; they are probably the former managing director of the Riding School, Elisabeth Gürtler, and Erwin Klissenbauer, currently co-managing director.
In the broadcast announcing Marihart’s resignation, Agriculture Minister Elisabeth Köstinger thanked him for his good work.
The new interim supervisory board head, Ulrich Herzog, is currently section head in the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection; he has been on the supervisory board of the riding school since 2010. In this way, a smooth continuation of the tasks of the supervisory board can be ensured, it said from the ministry.
Source: Nachrichten
