Pilnacek-Tod: Ombudsman Office Sees Investigation Errors
It was claimed that a suicide was assumed too early, which led to possible witnesses and evidence being ignored, criticized the Ombudsman appointed by the FPÖ, Christoph Luisser, at a press conference on Tuesday. His interim report is with the Ministry of the Interior, and he expects clarification through the investigation committee initiated by his party.
The interim report of the Ombudsman partially confirms already known criticism surrounding the death of the former justice section chief. For example, the excavator driver who found the body in a side arm of the Danube was not even questioned as a possible witness. Also, external injuries to Pilnacek were not used as a reason to examine the discovery site more closely and search for organic traces.
Autopsy and Smartphone
In his interim report, Luisser further criticizes that police investigators likely tried to actively prevent an autopsy of the body by influencing the attending community doctor. The Ombudsman also described the failure to secure the deceased's smartphone as the most serious omission. Thus, a central piece of evidence was simply given away and later destroyed.
However, Luisser does not want to speculate about the cause of Pilnacek's death, according to his own statement. As the Ombudsman responsible for the police, he is focusing solely on possible omissions by the investigating authorities, he emphasized. He now expects from Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) "as from every supreme organ, that he fulfills his duty and does his work." And perhaps the investigation committee will also contribute to further clarification, he hopes.
ÖVP: "Hardcore Party Work"
Unusual criticism of the Ombudsman - at least of its freedom member - came from the ÖVP. Luisser is currently destroying the credibility of the institution, stated Andreas Hanger, faction leader in the investigation committee, in a statement. He is conducting "hardcore party work for the FPÖ and is completely untenable for the Ombudsman with this irresponsible behavior."
(APA/Red)
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