Spesencausa: Strache Accepts First Lawsuit

There will be no objection to it, his lawyer announced on Wednesday in response to an APA inquiry. Strache and another person are accused of breach of trust by the Vienna public prosecutor's office. It concerns the attempt to cash out the premium of a life insurance policy taken out by the Vienna FPÖ. Strache denies any guilt.

According to the indictment, the ex-FPÖ leader allegedly tried to appropriate 300,000 euros. The FPÖ Vienna took out a life insurance policy for ten years in 2007, with Strache being appointed as the insured person as the state party chairman. In the event of his death, the chairman's family was to be secured, and in the event of survival, the FPÖ Vienna was entitled to the benefits. Strache is accused of having pushed for a payout to him despite surviving. However, this did not happen.

"I have never engaged in any criminal behavior in this context," Strache had already said after the indictment became known. The life insurance policy had already been decided, concluded, and subsequently "transferred and continued properly to me as the succeeding party chairman upon the request of my predecessor and with resolution in two phases" for his then-predecessor in 2001, he explained his view.

"Almost Relieving"

The objection period against the indictment ends on Wednesday. According to Strache's defense lawyer Gunilla Prohart, no legal remedies will be filed. Thus, the indictment is legally binding. The ex-FPÖ leader emphasized that he found it "almost relieving" that the case is now to be heard before an independent court. When a trial will take place is still unclear. The Vienna public prosecutor's office also announced that it would investigate further strands of the expenses affair.

After the Ibiza video became known in 2019, investigations were conducted in various cases. In two points, there have been indictments and ultimately acquittals. The Prikraf trial involved suspected law-buying in connection with a private clinic. Strache and a co-defendant were initially sentenced to suspended prison terms in the first instance, but were then acquitted in a new trial after the initial verdict was overturned. The case concerning alleged donations to an FPÖ-affiliated association for a supervisory board position at Asfinag also ended with an acquittal for the former vice chancellor.

(APA/Red)

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