Grasser in custody: Does the electronic house arrest now threaten him?

Karl-Heinz Grasser, ehemaliger Finanzminister, trat am 2. Juni 2025 seine Haftstrafe in Innsbruck an. Die Dauer könnte durch neue Regelungen verkürzt werden.
Karl-Heinz Grasser, former finance minister, competed in Innsbruck on June 2, 2025. The duration could be shortened by new regulations. (Symbolbild/DNAT)

Grasser in custody: Does the electronic house arrest now threaten him?

Innsbruck, Österreich - The former finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser has been admitted to the Innsbruck judge today. According to Exxpress.at , the 56-year-old arrived at the detention center shortly after noon. Grasser, who has lived with his family in Kitzbühel for years, received the request to take care within one month after the Supreme Court had sentenced him to an unconditional imprisonment for four years. This period includes the convictions in the cases Buwog and Terminal Tower Linz.

Although Grasser is now in custody, there are possibilities that he may not stay in the Innsbruck prison for long. An upcoming change in the law could expand the duration of the electronically monitored house arrest from twelve to 24 months, which should come into force from September 1, 2025. In the best case, Grasser could remain in freedom through a cluster until this date and then make an application for ankle bracelet. In this context, the Ministry of Justice emphasizes that Grasser, like any other convicted, could benefit from this regulation as long as there is no reasons for exclusion.

future prospects in the judicial system

Grasser was expected from the media when he arrived at the Innsbruck prison, while a car with Kitzbüheler characteristics and darkened windows pointed out to his presence. It is worth noting that the Innsbruck judiciary has a bad reputation and was assessed in an investigation as the worst prison. The conditions there could be another reason why Grasser could apply for electrical -based house arrest.

The regulations for electronically monitored house arrest stipulate that prisoners have the opportunity to spend their punishment under certain conditions in their own living area. To do this, you have to prove suitable accommodation and an ongoing source of income. The application can be made during the execution and the head of the responsible prison makes the decision. In addition, there must be a written consent of the people living in the common household.

health applications from Mitinsassen

In the same prison, other convicted people such as the former lobbyist Walter Meischberger and Peter Hochegger have also applied for catering for medical reasons. The assessment of these applications could take up to eight weeks. Both occupants have also been convicted of their offenses, with Meischberger for three and a half years and Hochegger for three years, of which twelve months are absolutely necessary.

The development of case law and the possible reforms in the judicial system raise a variety of questions. Will Karl-Heinz Grasser be able to benefit from the new regulations? The coming weeks will show how his detention period will shape and whether it can be released from prison early under the new provisions.

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OrtInnsbruck, Österreich
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