OGH Ruling in Grasser Trial on Tuesday

On Monday, the 14th Senate of the OGH will deliberate on the verdict, and today, Friday, former Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser used his right to speak for an emotional appeal to his credibility. He emphasized: "I have done nothing wrong," "I have a clear conscience," and "I can look myself in the mirror."

Defenders in Grasser Trial Complain of Unfair Proceedings

The second day of the trial began again on Friday with great media interest. Grasser, who was not legally sentenced to eight years in prison by the first court, was reticent at the start of the trial in the Vienna Palace of Justice. In addition to Grasser, former FPÖ General Secretary Walter Meischberger and lobbyist Peter Hochegger were also not legally convicted in the criminal proceedings under Judge Marion Hohenecker, and they have also appealed to the OGH. The decision of the highest court can range from overturning the verdict of the jury panel from 2020 to a full confirmation.

As on the previous day, the defenders eloquently complained that first judge Marion Hohenecker was biased due to statements in her private environment and that the proceedings were not fair. It is not enough to make small changes in the appeal proceedings at the OGH; there were "fundamental errors" in the proceedings at the Vienna Regional Criminal Court. "The rule of law is ultimately not negotiable," said lawyer Oliver Scherbaum.

After the lawyers, the General Prosecutor's Office, as the highest public prosecutor's office of the Republic, had the floor - and largely contradicted the arguments of the defendants' legal representatives. The "numerous alleged procedural deficiencies" in the Buwog proceedings put forward by the defense cannot be understood. A bias of the first judge Hohenecker cannot be established. The allegations that defendants and their lawyers were eavesdropped on in court are also not understandable, nor is the criticism of the seating arrangement at the time in the Great Jury Courtroom of the Vienna Regional Criminal Court.

Grasser: Proceedings Have Become the Maximum Penalty

After the lunch break, Grasser took the floor and was unusually brief. He stated that in the Buwog case, during the privatization of the federal apartments, he did not commit any breach of confidentiality, nor did he pass on any information in the case in an abusive manner. "I am firmly convinced that it was possible to achieve the highest possible price for the Republic," he emphasized regarding the Buwog sale to Immofinanz. The proceedings surrounding Buwog and Terminal Tower not only lasted 16 years but also 5,635 nights, "where you always think about these proceedings," said the former minister. The pressure on him was greater than he could have ever imagined. "These proceedings have become the maximum penalty for me," Grasser said before the five-member panel of judges at the Supreme Court. First judge Hohenecker was biased and made an erroneous judgment.

For Meischberger, the Buwog case came into his life like a "tsunami out of nowhere." He never felt that he had "committed any crime." "I have not defrauded anyone and caused no harm," Meischberger emphasized. These proceedings have always been "politically motivated." He has "lost everything," lamented Meischberger, referring to the loss of his house, apartment, and profession. Former Immofinanz CEO Karl Petrikovics explained before the Supreme Court judges that as the company head in 2004, he did not want to buy Buwog "at any price." "Buwog was not a once-in-a-century opportunity, but a means to an end. For the Buwog contract, "I certainly did not commit any crime."

Tuesday is the Moment of Truth in the Grasser Trial

After the closing statements of the five defendants present, the presiding judge Christa Hetlinger concluded the day at the Supreme Court. On Monday, the panel of judges will meet for their final deliberations, and the verdict will be announced next Tuesday at 10:00 AM.

(APA/Red)

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