Manipulated Copies of Traffic Tickets: Police Officer Embezzled Fines for Years

From June 2023, the Federal Bureau for Anti-Corruption and Corruption Prevention (BAK) investigated the officer and was able to prove irregularities in at least 484 cases between August 2020 and April 2023, confirmed a spokesperson for the Wiener Neustadt public prosecutor's office in a report by the "Kurier".

At Least 14,720 Euros in Damage Due to Ticket Fraud

The police officer, who conducted traffic controls in the Wiener Neustadt district, is said to have prevented the carbon copy from being imprinted by using cardboard when writing the tickets. On the later archived copy, he then entered a lower amount than he collected from the traffic offender. The difference went into his own pocket.

According to the "Kurier" report, the investigations were difficult. The BAK first had to track down traffic participants fined by the officer who had kept the ticket or could remember the amount. These data were then compared with the archived copies. Therefore, only a damage amount of 14,720 euros is being charged, while investigators assume a significantly higher number of unreported cases.

Trial Against 56-Year-Old

The officer, who has been suspended since the beginning of the investigations, will be tried on April 4 at the Regional Court of Wiener Neustadt, according to court spokesperson Birgit Borns. The charges are abuse of official authority and money laundering.

(APA/Red)

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