WKStA Closed Proceedings Regarding Ministry Surveys at Demox Institute
The WKStA announced in a press release on Thursday that the closure is due to the OLG decision from last year. Accordingly, the evidence seized during the house searches cannot be used against the accused. Therefore, criminally relevant behavior could not be proven, explained the WKStA. The OLG had upheld the complaint of Demox Managing Director Paul Unterhuber.
Case surrounding Demox Institute closed for WKStA
According to the OLG, there was no justified initial suspicion for the house search. Therefore, there should not have been a judicial authorization. Since no further promising and appropriate investigative measures were available based on the OLG decision, the proceedings had to be closed after thorough examination, according to the WKStA. The closures occurred after the approval of the corresponding project report by the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Justice after consultation with the Instruction Council. According to the WKStA, the case is thus closed.
Investigations into surveys by ÖVP-led ministries
The WKStA's investigations concerned surveys by the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Economy, all under ÖVP leadership, which were commissioned at the Demox Institute in 2021 and 2022. The proceedings began after a report with information from the parliamentary investigation committee. For the WKStA, this led to the suspicion that surveys had been commissioned in the name of the three ministries for which there was no or only partial factual necessity. At the same time, the surveys also included questions unrelated to the ministries, which at least partially served other purposes. Therefore, there was suspicion of breach of trust, fraud, and anti-competitive agreements.
"We have always assumed that the proceedings would be closed," reacted Demox Managing Director Unterhuber on Thursday: "After almost a year, the WKStA finally admits its mistake. Apart from accusations that have damaged our company and our reputation, nothing remains." The WKStA has thus also shaken confidence in the objectivity and proportionality of the investigative authorities. "In any case, we expect a comprehensive review to ensure that such a case does not repeat in the future," said Unterhuber.
(APA/Red)
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