Carinthian property manager under suspicion: over €830,000 embezzled
The Klagenfurt public prosecutor's office is investigating a real estate manager for breach of trust. He is alleged to have diverted funds from owners to his own company accounts.
Klagenfurt public prosecutor's office investigates real estate manager on suspicion of breach of trust
The Klagenfurt public prosecutor's office is investigating the managing director of a Carinthian real estate management firm on suspicion of breach of trust. This has been confirmed by government spokesman Markus Kitz. According to the Kleine Zeitung, the 49-year-old is alleged to have transferred more than €830,000 from property accounts to the account of his own real estate firm.
According to Kitz, investigations have been running since March 2024 — so the suspect is no stranger to the authorities.
Witnesses contact lawyer
Two witnesses who approached Klagenfurt lawyer Astrid Wutte-Lang brought the matter to light. She submitted a comprehensive statement of facts to the public prosecutor's office last week. According to the authorities, the statement mentions damage amounting to several hundred thousand euros. Shortly before this report, the suspect himself filed a self-disclosure report.
How property management works
A property management company manages other properties in trust on behalf of owners or landlords — in exchange for a monthly agreed fee. Owners pay into property accounts: operating costs, reserves for maintenance work, or rents. These funds are earmarked and may be used exclusively for expenses relating to the respective property, such as electricity, waste disposal, or tradespeople. Any other use is not covered by the contract.
"Tip of the iceberg"
That is precisely what the accused is alleged to have done. In the previous year and to date, he is alleged to have withdrawn a total of €836,000 from the property accounts. Lawyer Wutte-Lang warns: "It cannot be ruled out that this is only the tip of the iceberg." The managed properties encompass several hundred owners, including prominent and well-known individuals. The "massive withdrawals" far exceeded the regular management fee "many times over" and lacked "any contractual basis".
The suspicion is one of systematic embezzlement for the benefit of his own firms — the man is said to own several of them. Among other things, money is alleged to have flowed into a newly established company abroad.
Defence: self-disclosure concerns different time periods
Franz Zimmermann, the lawyer for the accused, confirms his client's self-disclosure report. However, he emphasises that it does not relate to the investigations ongoing since 2024, but to events from the years 2025 and 2026. He is currently unable to comment on the amount of damage, as investigations are still in their initial stages.
The presumption of innocence applies to the accused.
Source: Kleine Zeitung