Graz police officer charged with abuse of office – drugs from Volksgarten disposed of in bin
A Graz police officer disposed of packages found during a raid in the bin instead of securing them properly. He accepted a diversion settlement with a 6,000 euro fine.
Police officer disposed of drug haul from Graz Volksgarten – diversion settlement with 6,000 euros
A Graz police officer admitted in court on Monday that he had failed to properly secure three packages found during a raid in the Volksgarten, instead disposing of them in the bin. According to kleinezeitung.at, the incident resulted in proceedings for abuse of office – and ended with a diversion settlement offer from the judge.
The operation had been triggered by a tip-off: the drugs would be hanging in the bushes of the Volksgarten like Christmas baubles. A specialist unit responded and indeed found three sachets in a bush. The discovery was not, however, recorded in a report.
"It is a fact that I threw away the three baubles," the defendant admitted before Judge Kornelia Philipp. He said he had believed the contents to be pipe tobacco and had no suspicion of drugs. Furthermore, another alarm had come in at the same time, which is why the unit had left quickly. The packages had remained in the car and were later disposed of together with McDonald's packaging. "If I had suspected drugs, I would of course have prepared a seizure report," he explained.
The prosecutor disagreed with this account. "The defendant breached his obligations by failing to properly secure controlled substances that were found and by failing to draw up a report." The true contents of the packages could no longer be determined months after the incident. "The police officer would have been obliged to submit the contents to examination at least," the prosecutor said.
The case became public through rumours circulating within the authority. During the investigation, the officer had remained silent; it was only at trial that he addressed the matter for the first time.
His defence counsel emphasised that his client had not intended to harm or benefit the state or any other party. Colleagues described the officer as exemplary.
After consulting with the lay judges, Judge Philipp offered the previously unblemished police officer a diversion settlement. "It was an abuse of official power," she stated, "but you have no record and have taken responsibility." According to his own account, the defendant accepted the diversion including a fine of 6,000 euros "gratefully".
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)