Romanian family in Austria investigated for fraud: widow receives €4,500 per month
A clan of Romanians settled in Austria is under investigation for social benefit fraud. Following the death of the clan leader, the Austrian state grants the family €4,500 monthly.
Romanian clan in Vienna accused of years of social fraud
A large Romanian family settled in Austria is being investigated by authorities for systematic social benefit fraud, according to ProTV News. According to previous judicial investigations, the scheme used was always the same: registering companies, formally employing family members to accumulate months of contributions to the insurance system, collecting social benefits in parallel, and at the same time failing to pay contributions to health insurance and other taxes.
In early October, the clan leader died after falling from the fifth floor during construction work being carried out in Vienna. The Austrian state, which he is accused of defrauding, is now granting the widow and her five children approximately €4,500 per month, according to Kronen Zeitung, cited by ProTV News.
Account emptied, creditor threatened with car
Judicial proceedings around this clan have also generated moments of violence. Last year, as part of an insolvency procedure, lawyer Manfred Arbacher-Stöger presented himself at the recently built villa of a company officially declared bankrupt in order to assess the situation for the benefit of creditors. The company administrator and his brother-in-law reacted extremely aggressively.
The reason was apparently clear: the man facing bankruptcy had allegedly emptied his bank account through cash withdrawals totalling nearly €250,000. At the last check, the official balance of the account was only €243.50.
After initial threats, a close relative of the businessman allegedly got behind the wheel, accelerated and drove directly towards the judicial administrator. The lawyer, in a situation that was putting his life in danger, drew the pistol that he had the legal right to carry. Only then did the driver stop the vehicle.
The man was not at his first confrontation with the law: he had previously been sentenced to suspended imprisonment for the diversion or unlawful appropriation of several hundred thousand euros in another bankruptcy procedure.
€4,500 monthly for the family of the deceased man
The 45-year-old man died as a result of the workplace accident in October, leaving behind his wife and five children. A single bankrupt company belonging to the clan records outstanding debts of over €40,000 to the health insurance fund.
Nevertheless, the Austrian state is now intervening to support the family. The survivor's pension granted to the widow, orphan pensions and compensation allowances together amount to approximately €4,500 per month for the six remaining family members.
Source: Știrile ProTV