Diversion in Trial Against Judicial Officer in Vienna

The prison officer was charged with abuse of office and defamation. He admitted his full guilt. He stated that he had provided false information out of "shame" because a prisoner had escaped from him for the first time in his 20-year career. The case was settled out of court. After paying a fine of 4,000 euros, the proceedings will be terminated.

Prisoner Escaped from Prison Officer

The then 19-year-old prisoner had been serving a sentence for robbery and assault until January 2024. After serving his sentence, he was seamlessly taken into custody due to ongoing investigations into suspicion of terrorism. The 19-year-old was housed in the Wiener Neustadt prison, imposed by the Wiener Neustadt Regional Court. However, due to an illness, he was transferred to the Josefstadt prison.

On February 1, the man had an epileptic seizure, not for the first time. Therefore, it was decided to consult a neurologist at the Hospital of the Merciful Brothers in Vienna-Leopoldstadt the next day. The chief physician of the hospital ordered the prisoner to be brought to the medical department "not closed" - i.e. without handcuffs - as there could be a risk to his life if he were to fall due to his illness.

"Everything was fine until the time of return," said the accused, represented by lawyer Matthias Prückler. When the prison officer got into the elevator with the inmate, who was only wearing pajamas and slippers, and pressed the button, the 19-year-old took advantage of it. Just before the door closed, the boy slipped through and ran away.

Prison Officer Accused Prisoner of Attack

The prison officer, as seen on the surveillance video, still struggled to push the door open again and pursued him. Through the staircase to the lower area, he was able to chase after the terror suspect. However, at the main entrance of the hospital, the officer fell and the prisoner escaped. He was not caught until the next day in Vienna-Floridsdorf.

Because the 47-year-old had sustained a head injury while pushing the door open, his superior asked him about it. The prison officer then claimed that he had been attacked by the young man with his fist. A disciplinary procedure is still ongoing against the officer. The authority wanted to wait for today's criminal proceedings. Because he did not handcuff the prisoner, he had already received a disciplinary fine of 500 euros.

In the meantime, the 19-year-old was legally convicted on October 9 in Wiener Neustadt for membership of a criminal organization and a terrorist association. He is currently serving a five-year prison sentence, said Erich Habitzl, spokesman for the Wiener Neustadt public prosecutor's office, in response to an APA inquiry.

(APA/Red)

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