Grasser process: OGH reduces punishment and announces ECHR complaint!

Grasser process: OGH reduces punishment and announces ECHR complaint!

Vienna, Österreich - On March 25, 2025, the Supreme Court (OGH) decided in the long-awaited corruption process against the former finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser and other defendants about the illegality of the previous judgments. In a dramatic turn, the imprisonment for Grasser from originally eight years was reduced to four years. This decision marks a significant moment in a complex case that concerns the privatization of the federal housing associations in 2004, in which a bribery of 9.6 million euros is said to have flowed Press] (https://www.diepresse.com/19492268/Vier-jahne-fuer-grasser-ex-Minister-Ortet-Fehlreicht- und-Kuendigt-EGMR-complaints-anthe) reported.

The written judgments have now been electronically transmitted to the defenders and affected parties. For Walter Meischberger, the former Secretary General of the FPÖ, the punishment was reduced from seven to three and a half years, while Peter Hochegger, an ex-lobbyist, received an additional imprisonment from six to three years (two years conditioned). Karl Petrikovics, the former boss of the Immofinanz, has to custody for twelve months, which represents a reduction of two years. Georg Starzer, board member of RLB-Oberösterreich, was condemned to 20 months.

Legal decision and announcement of a complaint

The OGH made it clear that the four -week period for the start of the punishment from the request of the request by the Vienna Court of Criminal Court begins. The judgments are final and those affected are now promptly asked to start their penalties. However, Grasser and Meischberger have announced that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) have a complaint, whereby Grasser described the judgment as a "misjudgment". The ECHR cannot stop the start of prison, but could determine a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, which could lead to the duration of the procedure.

Christa Hetlinger, the chairwoman of the Senate, also emphasized that reducing the punishment is not a trivialization. In view of the defects in defense and the allegations of bias, the symptoms were rejected. It was also referred to the long period of proceedings, which was cited as a mitigating reason for the reduction in criminal shortening.

context: corruption and human rights

The allegations of corruption that are raised against Grasser and other political personalities go beyond individual crimes and raise more fundamental questions about the trust in the political integrity of Austria. According to [Amnesty International] (https://www.amnesty.at/news-events/news/oesterreich-was-s-aktuellen-aktuelle-marfewuerfe-mit--menschenrecht- zu-un), there is a direct connection between the abusive use of public funds and the endangerment of human rights. These practices are suspected of undermining the integrity of state action and shaking public trust.

For example, politicians are accused of using tax money to finance private interests. Entrepreneurs, including Siegfried Wolf, had bypassed tax exams through bribes. This not only represents a violation of public trust, but also endangers the financial foundations on which public services are based. These corruption scandals throw a shadow on the political system and require extensive reforms to protect the rights of citizens.