Despite Wrongfully Receiving Social Assistance for Years Despite Wealth: 47-Year-Old Convicted in Vienna
A conspiracy theorist, who operated several YouTube channels with thousands of subscribers during the Corona pandemic and had distinguished himself as an opponent of measures, was convicted of serious commercial fraud at the Vienna Regional Court on Wednesday. He had wrongly received emergency and bridging aid from January 2019 to June 2024. Damage caused: 52,510 euros. A jury sentenced the confessing 47-year-old to 18 months probation.
Conspiracy Theorist Convicted of Social Fraud
The presiding judge spoke of "classic social fraud" in the reasoning for the verdict. Mitigating factors were "the full remorseful confession" of the defendant, aggravating a previous conviction some time ago. With a threat of punishment of up to three years, half of the sentence was appropriate. It was not necessary to make the 47-year-old serve the sentence or to proceed with a partially conditional sentence, the judge explained.
The verdict is already legally binding. The 47-year-old accepted it immediately. The prosecutor waived the right to appeal.
Defendant Had Over 200,000 Euros in Bank Account
The receipt of social assistance was not justified because the man had over 200,000 euros in his account and he did not disclose this considerable fortune to the AMS. After a fire had largely destroyed the defendant's apartment, acquaintances of the man, who is well connected in the right-wing scene - his contacts include Gottfried Küssel and Martin Sellner - started a crowdfunding campaign and called for donations. The campaign raised at least 170,000 euros, the rest of the account balance, according to the 47-year-old, was a loan. He wanted to become self-employed.
(APA/Red)
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