Trial Against ÖVP Club Chairman Wöginger Started with a Twist

It was already known in advance that the two also accused tax officials had submitted a "statement of responsibility" to the court. During the trial, Wöginger's lawyer, Michael Rohregger, announced that his client would also do the same.

The ÖVP parliamentary group leader is accused by the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA) of "job rigging." He is alleged to have intervened with the former Secretary General in the Ministry of Finance, Thomas Schmid, on behalf of a party friend and ensured that this person became the head of the tax office for Braunau, Ried, and Schärding. Also accused are two tax officials - the first accused was the head of the evaluation commission, the second accused was a member of it, and Wöginger, as the third accused, is listed as the instigator. The alleged intervention is said to have occurred in 2017, when Wöginger was already a member of the National Council. All three accused - who are presumed innocent - have so far denied the allegations.

Trial in Linz: Wöginger Did Not Recognize the "Significance of His Actions"

"Mag. Schmid could have understood it that way," but "my client neither knew who else had applied at the time" nor who was on the appointment commission, explained Wöginger's lawyer. "It was not his intention, but it is attributable to his actions (that a better-qualified applicant was not considered, note). Had he recognized the significance of his actions, he would have acted differently."

"I see the matter with completely different eyes today," said Wöginger himself. "With today's knowledge, I would not do it in this form anymore. I am truly sorry. I did not foresee it in this dimension, but I take responsibility."

"Widespread Phenomenon of Job Rigging" Not Harmless

The allegations "can be described as job rigging," which is a "widespread phenomenon," but anything but harmless, the senior prosecutor began his presentation. The fact that there are only a few criminal proceedings has a reason: "These agreements are made in secret." But this case is special: "There has never been so much incriminating evidence in such a case."

At the center of the case is an ÖAAB official and ÖVP mayor. He had already applied for the leadership of another tax office. The evaluation commission was also led by the first accused at that time. The first accused, also rooted in the ÖVP, "supported the ambitions also due to party affiliation," according to the prosecutor. However, because another member of the commission "in accordance with the law" insisted on giving more consideration to professional experience, he was not selected.

Wöginger Allegedly Asked Schmid for Help

The mayor then applied for the leadership of the Braunau tax office. He had approached Wöginger and asked for support. "It was about supporting a party friend" in a major career leap. Wöginger then turned to Thomas Schmid, Secretary General in the Ministry of Finance, who in turn contacted the second accused - a finance official also rooted in the ÖVP environment and a member of both evaluation commissions. "Everyone was aware that this personnel request was also politically motivated." The second accused promised to support the mayor.

"The composition of the evaluation commission was crucial." Therefore, the person responsible for personnel in the central region, who had prevented the mayor in the commission for the Freistadt tax office - although she had already been appointed to the commission - was replaced. "Why this was changed is not apparent from the files."

Better Qualified Interim Leader Did Not Get the Job

The interim leader of the Braunau tax office, who, unlike the mayor, could demonstrate leadership experience and further training and had received several commendations, also applied. She was provocatively questioned by the first accused, even though she had a clear advantage in terms of her qualifications. The mayor, on the other hand, "had not worked in any tax office since his basic training."

The competitor did not get the job, but the mayor did. The woman turned to the Equal Treatment Commission and was proven right. The Federal Administrative Court awarded her compensation for discrimination. She filed a complaint against the two commission members - she "did not know" the role of Wöginger and Schmid at the time.

Schmid Chats in Focus

The WKStA also relies on chats from Thomas Schmid. He had contact with the second accused. On the day of the decisive meeting of the evaluation commission in February 2017, he wrote to the then Secretary General "Hi! with a stomach ache- but:" and added a thumbs-up emoji. Schmid replied: "My hero!" Immediately afterwards, he wrote to Wöginger: "We did it :-)). The mayor owes you one!" Wöginger was "totally happy" about it. Schmid also informed his immediate superior, the then ÖVP Finance Minister Hans Jörg Schelling, that the "intervention by Wöginger" was successful.

After the announcement of the assumption of responsibility, the hearing was interrupted for an hour at the request of the WKStA.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.