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Grasser in Capri: Luxury shopping before the threat of prison!
Karl-Heinz Grasser, ex-finance minister, was spotted shopping in Capri as he awaits a prison sentence.
Grasser in Capri: Luxury shopping before the threat of prison!
On May 31, 2025, former Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser was held by a tourist while shopping in Capri. Grasser, who worked in this position from 2000 to 2007, was walking in the pedestrian zone with his wife Fiona. The tourist noticed the couple as they sought shelter from the light rain in a guest garden with several shopping bags. This incident occurred on May 20 at 3:25 p.m. and casts a shadow over Grasser's upcoming prison sentence, which is expected in Austria. 5min.at reports that the circumstances of his stay in Capri contrast with his legal disputes.
In 2020, Grasser was sentenced to eight years in prison for bribery, but the Supreme Court reduced this sentence to four years. The reason for the conviction is alleged irregularities in the sale of 60,000 federal apartments in 2004, during which he is said to have provided crucial information to a private investor. This led to the real estate company in question being awarded the contract and Grasser and other parties involved receiving commissions amounting to 9.6 million euros. This information is taken from the details in a report by tagesschau.de.
Serious allegations and discussions about corruption
The presiding judge described the crimes as serious and unprecedented in Austria, and due to the length of the proceedings, the prison sentence was reduced but remains the highest imposed on a top Austrian politician. Grasser's lawyers argued that the ruling was politically motivated, while he himself announced that he would lodge a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights. However, this action will not result in a postponement of the prison sentence as the daily news reported.
Comprehensive anti-corruption reforms are underway in Austria, particularly in the context of the black-green coalition, which is struggling with falling poll numbers. A draft law to reform criminal corruption law includes measures such as the ban on purchasing mandates and the criminalization of promises for “non-duty official transactions”. Justice Minister Alma Zadić and Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler outlined the main points of the reform, which is seen as a strong response to long-standing demands from the OECD. Loud sueddeutsche.de There will be an automatic loss of office for elected officials after more than six months in prison, as well as stricter penalties for bribery offenses over 300,000 euros.