Christoph Walser in Innsbruck: Charge for tax evasion and defamation

Christoph Walser in Innsbruck: Charge for tax evasion and defamation

In a surprising turn, the Innsbruck public prosecutor has charged the Innsbruck charges against Christoph Walser, the former President of the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce and Transport Entrepreneur. The indictment includes several serious allegations, including a tax evasion of 1.1 million euros. Walser, who is a member of the ÖVP, faces further charges, including defamation, forgery of evidence and incorrect evidence.

According to the indictment, Walser is said to have faked operational expenses and has not disclosed its actual income. The payment of wages "black" is also blamed. This procedure has caused further taxes, including sales, income and corporation taxes. A special accusation states that Walser has granted freight orders to a subcontractor and made large cash loans on the grounds that he had paid this subcontractor in cash while at the same time presenting false documents to confirm these expenses. This was interpreted as a falsification of evidence.

Details of the indictment and possible punishments

The public prosecutor's investigations have also exposed Walser as a defamer because he was responsible for the inferiority of his accounting practices on his employees and a driver. The allegations result in a picture of deliberate misleading that the investigators led to the lawsuit. For his actions, Walser could expect a fine of up to 2.2 million euros. In addition, he threatens a prison sentence of up to five years if he is convicted.

The indictment also provides for the imposition of a association benefit against the company that operates Walser. Responding negotiations have not yet been scheduled; However, two weeks are available within which Walser can object to the lawsuit.

Walser laid his offices both as the mayor of the Thaur municipality and the Chamber of Commerce when the investigation became concrete. He expressed that he was not fully aware of his responsibility as an entrepreneur. His successor in the Chamber of Commerce is Barbara Thaler.

The investigation and the resulting charges not only put Walser under pressure, but also throw a shadow on his political career. For a long time, the 49-year-old was considered a promising figure within the Tyrolean ÖVP, which was even traded as a possible successor to the former governor Günther Platter. But since the state election in 2022, Walser has largely disappeared from the political spotlight.

With the current situation, many sides are excited about how the case develops, especially because Walser employs around 60 people in his company. The outcome of the procedure could not only have personal consequences for Walser, but also for the employees and the economic integrity of his company. For more detailed information and developments for this case, See the article on Volksblatt.at