It is said to have betrayed investigations against a journalist from the daily newspaper “Die Presse”. The trial is to be heard on November 3rd in the large jury room of the Vienna Regional Court. Corresponding reports by the “Kurier” and the “Falter” have been confirmed by the Vienna Regional Criminal Court and the Innsbruck public prosecutor’s office on Wednesday evening.
It’s not about Christian Pilnaceks Chats with ex-Justice Minister Wolfgang Brandstetter (ÖVP) and the accusation that he betrayed the search of investor Michael Tojner’s house. Rather, a by-product of the investigation is accused. The starting point of the indictment was a complaint by public prosecutors from the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) against the “press” editor Anna Thalhammer. This was followed by the WKStA in the previous year because of a critical article. The Vienna Public Prosecutor put the complaint back. The cause had made waves because the criminal complaint was viewed by some commentators as an attack on freedom of the press.
Proceedings not yet completed
Pilnacek is suspected, however, of having betrayed the advertisement to an editor of the “Kurier” in December 2020. In WhatsApp messages Pilnaceks The Innsbruck public prosecutor’s office accidentally came across a chat on mobile phone in which the now suspended section head corresponded with a “courier” journalist about the criminal complaint from the WKStA, writes the “Kurier”. The public prosecutor’s office sees this as a breach of official secrecy.
The Vienna Regional Criminal Court and the Innsbruck Public Prosecutor announced in their press release that Pilnacek I confessed “not guilty” in the preliminary investigation. The violation of official secrecy is threatened with a prison sentence of up to three years.
Incidentally, the preliminary investigation is against Pilnacek and others have not yet been concluded, emphasize the regional court and the Innsbruck public prosecutor’s office. Since it is kept under lock and key, no information is given.
