A written copy of the verdict is now available in the largest corruption trial that Austria has experienced so far in the post-war period. Judge Marion Hohenecker presented the almost 1,300-page, extensive verdict on Friday. The indictment by the economic and corruption prosecutor’s office from July 2016 already comprised 825 pages.
The judgments in the Buwog trial are not final. Grasser was sentenced to eight years in prison, former FPÖ General Secretary Walter Meischberger to seven, ex-lobbyist Peter Hochegger to six.
The main defendant, Grasser, from 2000 to 2007 Finance Minister in two governments of Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Bowl (ÖVP), was on trial for the first time on suspicion of corruption. He is said to have enriched himself with the help of his co-defendants – Meischberger, Ernst Karl Plech and Hochegger. The indictment is that during the privatization of federal housing (Buwog) during Grasser’s term of office, a 9.6 million euro secret commission paid to Hochegger and Meischberger was actually bribe money. Furthermore, Grasser and his confidants are said to have received 200,000 euros in bribes for letting the finance company into the Linz office building Terminal Tower. All deny the allegations.
Source: Nachrichten
