Grasser trial in the OGH: Will the fate of the ex-minister be decided?

Grasser trial in the OGH: Will the fate of the ex-minister be decided?

Crucial days lie ahead for Karl-Heinz Grasser and his former accomplices: In the next four days, the Supreme Court (OGH) in Vienna will decide on the appeal against the final judgments in the scandal surrounding the sale of the Buwog apartments. While in the first instance Grasser was sentenced to eight years in prison, ex-FPÖ General Secretary Walter Meischberger to seven years and lobbyist Peter Hochegger to six years in prison, the fates of the ex-politicians involved are now hanging in the balance Vienna newspaper reported.

The court could confirm the verdict, increase the penalties or order a new trial. The defendants also have to face the fact that not only their freedom, but also the damage caused by the real estate deal, amounting to almost a billion euros, is at stake. In the controversial sale, which took place in 2004, a consortium led by real estate magnate Karl Petrikovics acquired the apartments for 961 million euros after indications of possible influence on the process only came to light years later, such as Nachrichten.at reported.

The focus of the negotiations are serious allegations that Grasser is said to have given his friends information about the bid amount, which would have damaged the republic. Despite Graster's claims to the contrary, Hochegger weighs heavily on him and accuses him of actively working on a plan to enrich himself. The defense of the defendants will be important in the upcoming hearings, as no new evidence is planned. Despite the intense debate, the question remains whether Grasser and his co-defendants can actually be held responsible for their actions - a situation that is creating tension among the Austrian public.