Crown Witness Status for Schmid in the Casag Procedure

An appropriate procedure report has been approved by the public prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Justice, the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office announced on Thursday. Schmid must continue to contribute to the clarification and pay a fine of 60,000 euros as well as partial compensation of 200,000 euros.

Partial Compensation and Fine for Schmid

If Schmid fulfills these obligations, the criminal proceedings against him will be discontinued. Schmid was also Secretary General in the Ministry of Finance and had made a comprehensive confession before the WKStA in several interrogations. In the process, prominent ÖVP representatives - including former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz - were heavily implicated in several cases.

The so-called Casag proceedings summarize those investigative strands that have resulted from the Ibiza video. These include investigations into various appointments at Casinos Austria (Casag) and ÖBAG, as well as the advertising scandal or the so-called "Beinschab-Tool". It is alleged that surveys paid for with taxpayers' money from ÖVP-led ministries were placed in the media, from which Kurz and the ÖVP are said to have benefited.

Prerequisite for Whistleblower Status

The prerequisite for granting whistleblower status in a procedure is that a potential whistleblower voluntarily approaches the public prosecutor's office and makes a remorseful confession about his contribution to the crime. In addition, he must "reveal new facts or evidence, the knowledge of which significantly contributes to the comprehensive clarification of crimes beyond his own contribution". These prerequisites have recently been doubted by lawyers of various defendants. However, there is no immediate legal remedy against the granting of the status.

(APA/Red)

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