Grasser began his prison sentence in the Buwog case
The 56-year-old Grasser arrived shortly after noon on Monday, according to the Innsbruck correctional facility's statement to the APA. Grasser received the summons to begin his sentence at the beginning of May. From that point, one has a month by law to appear at the responsible correctional facility.
Buwog Case: Meischberger and Hochegger Applied for Postponement of Imprisonment
Grasser, originally from Carinthia, has lived with his family in Kitzbühel for years. The ex-lobbyist and former FPÖ General Secretary Walter Meischberger, who was also convicted like Grasser, recently applied for a postponement of imprisonment for medical reasons. The same was done by the also convicted ex-lobbyist Peter Hochegger. In both cases, medical experts have been appointed to verify whether the claimed health reasons are valid, explained Christina Salzborn, spokeswoman for the Vienna Regional Court for Criminal Matters, to the APA over the weekend. It usually takes six to eight weeks to complete an assessment and evaluation regarding the question of fitness for imprisonment. The Tyrolean Meischberger would have had to report to the Korneuburg correctional facility, as he resides in Lower Austria.
Innsbruck Correctional Facility Third Largest in the Country
Grasser was not seen in front of the correctional facility in western Innsbruck on Monday. Media representatives and photographers waited in front of the building for the possible arrival of Grasser, who served as department head from 2000 to 2007 - initially for the FPÖ and then as an independent or ÖVP-affiliated. Only a car with tinted windows and a license plate from the Kitzbühel district indicated his presence. However, the 56-year-old is believed to have arrived at the correctional facility in another vehicle. The Innsbruck correctional facility is considered the third largest judicial prison in Austria. Recently, around 430 inmates of all "offense classes" were housed there. Not only convicted criminals but also arrested suspects or pre-trial detainees are accommodated here. The prison, located directly on the municipal border with Völs, is colloquially known as "Ziegelstadel" because its construction began in 1960 on the site of a former brick factory.
Grasser Hopes for Early Electronic Tag
The chances that Grasser will not have to stay too long in the Innsbruck correctional facility are good. A planned legal amendment by the government, which extends the duration of electronically monitored house arrest (electronic tag) from twelve to 24 months, could work in his and his co-defendants' favor. The new regulation is set to come into effect on September 1. Grasser, with a four-year prison sentence, already has the chance to be conditionally released after two years. With the legal amendment, he could receive the electronic tag as early as this fall. Grasser was finally convicted by the Supreme Court (OGH) at the end of March - after a 16-year-long trial - for breach of trust and acceptance of gifts by officials, resulting in a four-year unconditional prison sentence. Meischberger received three and a half years unconditionally, and Hochegger three years, of which twelve months are unconditional.
(APA/Red)
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