Karl's bold final showdown: prison or freedom for Grasser?

Karl's bold final showdown: prison or freedom for Grasser?

An explosive chapter in Austria's judicial history could soon lead to a dramatic climax: Karl-Heinz Grasser, former finance minister, may be facing prison. Grasser, who was sentenced to eight years in prison for serious corruption in the Buwog affair, is hoping his defense will have the verdict overturned. Next Monday, the Supreme Court (OGH) will hear the appeals of Grasser and his co-defendant Walter Meischberger today.at reported. If the court confirms the original decision, Grasser will be threatened with immediate imprisonment in a Tyrolean facility where he is also staying during his marriage to Fiona Pacifico Griffini-Grasser.

The trial and the allegations

The Buwog affair, which represents the largest corruption trial of the Second Republic, revolves around the privatization of 60,000 federal apartments in 2004 while Grasser was finance minister. Courts found evidence of illegal agreements and covert payments totaling 9.6 million euros, some of which allegedly went into Grasser's pockets. The General Prosecutor's Office has already recommended that the guilty verdict be upheld, while Grasser always rejects the allegations, reported oe24.at.

The coming days of negotiations, scheduled for March 20th, 24th and 25th, could decide the fate of the former politician. If the Supreme Court does not uphold the appeal, the possibility of immediate imprisonment looks imminent. Grasser has been sitting on hot coals since the verdict was announced over four years ago, as the appeals have not yet been heard. A dramatic turning point in a judicial history that is already considered sensational is emerging and could soon enter the next rounds.