Police Officer Allegedly Diverted Fines: Trial Postponed

According to the public prosecutor, the man is said to have manipulated the duplicates when collecting fines from August 2020 to April 2023 and pocketed 14,720 euros. The accused partially pleaded guilty to the charge of abuse of official authority. The trial was adjourned to May.

The jury trial revolves around 484 cases in which irregularities were proven. In addition to the damage amount of 14,720 euros, investigators assume a significantly higher number of unreported cases. The investigations were initiated in June 2023 following a tip-off from a colleague. The accused, who frequently conducted traffic checks in the Wiener Neustadt district, is said to have, for example, manipulated the duplicate by subsequently entering 20 euros on on-the-spot fines for speeding violations of 50 euros and not fully remitting the collected amounts to the department.

In the course of the extensive investigations, fined motorists were tracked down who had kept the ticket or could remember the amount. These data were then compared with the archived duplicates. According to the prosecutor, only about a third of the cases were charged. Another part was dismissed because the investigations would have taken even longer otherwise.

Accused admitted mistakes, but denies pocketing money

The defense attorney said about his client: "He made mistakes in handling on-the-spot fines." The accused had "served in top police service for 30 years," but then suffered a "severe burnout." The accused reported an impairment and a fall with a head injury in 2019, but he continued to serve afterwards. "I didn't realize that I was ill," said the accused, who worked as a police officer from 1991 until his suspension.

He admitted to making mistakes in handling the blocks, but "I never pocketed any money," emphasized the 56-year-old. The defendant was also accused of not handing over or forwarding items and documents such as driver's licenses or fake license plates to the appropriate authority, but instead storing them in his locker.

No Personality Disorder According to Expert

Other officers described the defendant on the witness stand as very committed. His former superior described the 56-year-old as "one of the most efficient traffic police officers the republic could wish for." The accused had issued "70 percent of the traffic tickets in the entire district of Wiener Neustadt," reported the witness.

The defendant has an accentuated personality - he is very law-abiding and committed - as well as an overload syndrome, said expert Manfred Walzl. This could slightly impair his accountability. The expert did not see a severe or lasting personality disorder or burnout.

Drivers who had received fines for speeding were also questioned as witnesses. They each reported that they had to pay 50 euros. Subsequently, the trial was adjourned to May 6, with another possible date planned for May 15. On the next day of the hearing, more fined traffic participants are to be questioned as witnesses or - if the defense agrees - their statements will be read out.

(APA/Red)

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