Peschorn on Grasser personal bankruptcy: “The Republic has a right to these amounts”

The personal bankruptcy of Karl-Heinz Grasser is expected to continue in the fall. There was something about it in “ZiB2”. Wolfgang PeschornHead of the Financial Procuratorate as a guest. He made it clear that the Republic would stick to its demands – even if a settlement was offered.

Peschorn emphasized: “We always want everything. The Republic has a right to these amounts.” It’s about taxes that have to be collected compulsorily and about 13 million euros from a criminal offense. Grasser’s most recently rumored offer has currently been withdrawn anyway.

Assets and liabilities

Recycling must be further promoted, especially abroad. “So the cards are not all on the table yet,” said Peschorn, referring to assets Liechtenstein. He also referred to further risks for the republic, such as defense claims of around two billion euros CA Yes.

Peschorn also referred to other liable parties in the BUWOG proceedings: “There are three other people who are also liable.” The aim is to enforce the Republic’s claims “with all meticulousness and energy”.

Criticism of SIGNA insolvency

Peschorn’s criticism of the handling of the SIGNA insolvency was clear. “It’s going too slow for me,” he said. Above all, things are “not going in the right direction”. After more than two and a half years, it was clear “that Mr. René Benko was the person in power,” even though he had no formal function. The courts now also share this view.

The criticism is aimed at everyone involved, “in particular the decision-makers in insolvencies”, i.e. courts and insolvency administrators.

Armament, countertrade and transparency

When it comes to planned arms purchases, Peschorn remains skeptical about counter-deals. His recommendations from 2017 still apply. The decisive factor is EU law, which from the financial procuratorate’s perspective must be interpreted narrowly. “In any case, agreement should be reached with the European Commission on this issue beforehand.”

To prevent corruption, he again called for one Code of Conduct and more transparency. It is important to have a register “where it is documented who had what contacts with whom and at what time.”

Further procedures open

On the committee of inquiry into the death of the head of the justice section Christian Pilnacek Peschorn said he had not received any inquiries. He reported progress on the Habsburg jewels that had surfaced in Canada: “This schedule stipulates that we will have reached a conclusion at the end of September.”