Grasser before the OGH: Verdict is in the balance - fate of the ex-minister!

Grasser before the OGH: Verdict is in the balance - fate of the ex-minister!

The trial against former Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser is taking a new turn. On March 21, 2025, the Supreme Court (OGH) began hearing the nullity appeals against the final judgment of 2020. Grasser, who was sentenced to eight years in prison, does not see himself as alone. The ex-FPÖ general secretary Walter Meischberger and the lobbyist Peter Hochegger are also affected and have submitted their complaints to the OGH vienna.at reported. The judges' sessions will last four days, with a decision expected next Monday.

Grasser and his lawyers are fighting to restore justice

Grasser and his defense lawyers consider the verdict to be “void” and argue that the procedure was flawed. Lawyer Manfred Ainedter explained that there were serious procedural errors, including the judge's bias. “It ranges from inadequate judgment content to violations of fundamental rights,” says Ainedter. Other lawyers also wanted to point out the alleged inadequacies in the proceedings in court and emphasized that the verdict did not meet legal standards ORF reported.

The core of the indictment revolves around the BUWOG case, in which Grasser is accused of abusing his political powers for enrichment. A controversial real estate sale of 60,000 apartments for 961 million euros is considered to be the centerpiece of the scandal. The lobbyist Hochegger admitted to giving Grasser information about competing offers, which is crucial to the prosecution. A ruling on the nullity appeals could have far-reaching consequences for all defendants. If the Supreme Court confirms the guilty verdicts, Grasser will have to begin his prison sentence - a trial after more than seven years that remains on a knife's edge.