Start of Trial in the Wienwert Case in January

In a comprehensive indictment, the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA) accuses former managing director Stefan Gruze, ten other individuals, and three associations of, among other things, serious commercial fraud, breach of trust, and fraudulent insolvency. The WKStA has been investigating the Wienwert case since 2017, and the indictment was filed with the Regional Court for Criminal Matters in February of this year.

Wienwert Case: WKStA Accuses Former Company Head of Damaging Investors

The Wienwert case involves the damage to investors. Specifically, Gruze is alleged to have promoted the Wienwert company as an economically successful enterprise while concealing its insolvency. Additionally, the WKStA accuses him of deceiving investors with false information about the use of bond funds. Furthermore, Gruze is alleged to have damaged the company's assets by settling private liabilities or arranging unjustified bonus payments to himself. He is also accused of having set aside company assets, thereby thwarting or reducing the satisfaction of creditors.

Former Vienna ÖVP Head Mahrer and SPÖ Politician Nevrivy Also Indicted in Wienwert Case

In addition to Gruze, his two predecessors Nikos Bakirzoglu and Wolfgang Sedelmayer, a fourth former Wienwert employee, former Vienna ÖVP head Karl Mahrer and his wife, as well as Vienna SPÖ municipal politician Ernst Nevrivy, will have to answer in court as accomplices or alleged participants. Other defendants include the now-insolvent entrepreneur Klemens Hallmann.

Mahrer and his wife are specifically accused of contributing to breach of trust. The PR consulting company run by Mahrer's wife is said to have received a total of 84,000 euros from Wienwert over a period of seven months without providing corresponding services. Although Mahrer, then Deputy Police President of Vienna and later ÖVP National Council member, had no legal relationship with the company, he repeatedly appeared for the PR agency in connection with the payments from Wienwert.

Wienwert Case: Nevrivy Allegedly Exchanged Information for Football Tickets

Nevrivy is alleged to have disclosed the planned location for a depot expansion to the Wienwert board in advance, after which they purchased the property and the Wiener Linien had to buy it back at a much higher price. This allegedly caused damage of around 850,000 euros to the city of Vienna, according to the WKStA. In return, he is said to have received several VIP tickets for the Vienna football derby and national team games from the real estate company. Additionally, around 36,000 euros were allegedly improperly given to a music group from his home district.

Hallmann, on the other hand, is primarily accused by the prosecutor's office of offering shares in the Kaufhaus Wiener Straße 6-8 Projektentwicklung GmbH for sale, knowing about Wienwert's financial distress, and dictating disadvantageous contract terms for Wienwert AG. This allegedly caused damage of nearly 4 million euros to the creditors. The presumption of innocence applies to all defendants. It is generally expected that the trial will extend over several weeks.

(APA/Red)

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