Workers remain vulnerable to radiation risks as the Commission has yet to approve a directive aiming to safeguard workers from such hazards.
Austrian Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser Sentenced to Four Years Imprisonment for Embezzlement
Karl-Heinz Grasser, the former Austrian Finance Minister, has been sentenced to four years in prison by the Supreme Court following his conviction for embezzlement. The verdict was delivered on March 25, 2025, but the written document, spanning over 10,000 pages, is yet to be issued.
Grasser and Walter Meischberger, another defendant in the case, were found guilty of influencing the bidding process for the sale of Buwog apartments to Immofinanz, which led to embezzlement of approximately 10 million euros in commission.
The regional court is expected to issue an 'end decision' regarding the case, which will be served to Grasser and Meischberger. However, this decision is not expected before late May, and it could be later. Once the 'end decision' is issued, Grasser's imprisonment is expected to begin in June, following a four-week period.
If Grasser's last known address is in Kitzbühel, he will begin his imprisonment in the "Ziegelstadel" in Innsbruck. The specific details of the 'end decision' have not been disclosed, but it is known that Grasser may be eligible for house arrest after about a year, subject to certain conditions.
Walter Meischberger was also sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for his role in the embezzlement scheme. Co-defendant Hochegger received a three-year suspended sentence due to his confession.
The justice department will decide where Grasser will serve his sentence, with reports suggesting that he could be housed in the same facility as other high-profile inmates in Innsbruck. Grasser has already been granted legal day releases, such as visits to care for his elderly parents, which are allowed twice a quarter under Austrian law.
This conviction marks a significant turning point in the Buwog privatization case, which has been under investigation for several years. The Supreme Court has not yet issued the written verdict of conviction for Grasser, Meischberger, and Co. The verdict is expected to be sent to the Vienna Regional Court by late April or early May.
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Finance-related business news has reported that the former Austrian Finance Minister, Karl-Heinz Grasser, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for embezzlement following his conviction in the Buwog privatization case. The Supreme Court's verdict, involving Grasser, Walter Meischberger, and others, is yet to be issued in its full written form. Crime and justice news also covered the sentencing, as Grasser's imprisonment may begin in June after the issuance of the 'end decision' by the regional court.
