Charges Against Former Football Pro for Fraud and Embezzlement

A former Austrian football player, who played for various top league teams, became Austrian champion twice, and was called up to the national team in his prime, has been charged with serious fraud and embezzlement. This was confirmed on Friday by Christoph Zonsics-Kral, spokesman for the Vienna Regional Court, to the APA.

Trial Against Former Football Pro for Fraud and Embezzlement in January

The indictment is already legally binding. Therefore, the 33-year-old ex-kicker is likely to be tried in January. The man has been in custody in Vienna since September 18, after he was arrested in Germany and extradited. The Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office accuses him of a series of criminal acts with a damage amount of over 240,000 euros. He is alleged to have committed these in Vienna, at other locations in the federal territory and in Germany, mainly in the year 2023. The presumption of innocence applies to the ex-pro.

Charged Ex-Football Pro Already Convicted

The footballer ended his active career at a lower-class club last year. He already has a relevant previous conviction - a conditional prison sentence imposed on him by the Korneuburg Regional Court for fraud was confirmed in the instance. After his first court hearing, the 33-year-old went underground and did not comply with the conditions imposed on him. The Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office finally issued an arrest warrant, the man was arrested in Germany at the end of July 2024 and subsequently handed over to the domestic judiciary.

The former footballer is said to have duped people since last year, some of whom he knew at least partially from his activity as a professional athlete, with the promise of lucrative investments in cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, he pretended to them that he could procure or sell expensive watches profitably - one victim handed over a Rolex worth 43,000 euros, another two watches of the same brand with a total value of 34,000 euros. A watch worth 14,000 euros is said to have been embezzled by the 33-year-old.

The ex-footballer is also said to have borrowed loans for the alleged purchase of luxury watches, but did not repay the money. Instead, he is said to have fobbed off his creditors with various excuses. One charge concerns a kitchen appliance, for the procurement of which the ex-footballer is said to have taken several thousand euros without delivering it.

(APA/Red)

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