A verdict is expected on Friday in the trial against Heinz-Christian Strache. The former FPÖ chairman and the co-accused owner of the Währing private clinic, Walter Grubmüller, are accused of bribery or bribery by the public prosecutor’s office for corruption. Strache is said to have initiated a law against donations, which he denies. If found guilty, both face prison terms of six months to five years.
The proceedings concern two donations from Grubmüller of 2,000 and 10,000 euros to the Federal FPÖ. According to the WKStA, these were linked to Strache’s “unlawful performance of an official business”. The then FPÖ boss is said to have tried to change the private hospitals financing fund (PRIKRAF) with an initiative application that was actually hopeless in parliamentary practice, in order to enable Grubmüller, a friend, to offset the services of his clinic with the social insurance. Strache and Grubmüller deny the allegations.
Last Monday, the last witnesses were questioned in the trial that began on July 6th. Now it is judge Claudia Moravec-Loidolt’s turn. Before that, the prosecution as well as the defense attorneys Strache and Grubmüller will hold their closing arguments.
