Million-euro trial in Leoben: 75-year-old partially admits guilt in court
A 75-year-old former managing director stood trial at Leoben Regional Court over damages of €3.54 million. He acknowledged parts of the allegations.
Trial in Leoben: Former managing director admits to parts of million-euro allegations
An extensive business trial against a 75-year-old Upper Styrian began on Wednesday at Leoben Regional Court. According to 5min.at, the public prosecutor's office alleges that the former managing director of a subsidiary of an Upper Austrian company abused his authority over many years. The claimed damages amount to approximately €3.54 million. At the start of proceedings, the defendant acknowledged part of the allegations — on other points he contradicted the charges.
A particularly striking allegation concerns payments to a hunter. He is said to have received almost €440,000 over several years, although according to the public prosecutor's office he worked exclusively in the private hunting ground of the defendant's son. The payments were nonetheless processed through the company. Confronted with this allegation, the 75-year-old admitted to knowing about it. "I knew about it. It was a mistake. I wanted to cover it up," he stated in court. He also partially admitted to other privately incurred expenses — including a photovoltaic system, household appliances and company vehicles — that are said to have been charged to the company.
However, the largest share of the damages amount consists of bonus payments to the defendant's son, who was also a managing director of the company and died roughly two years ago. The public prosecutor's office accuses the 75-year-old of granting his son inflated bonuses totalling nearly three million euros. The defendant firmly rejects this allegation: the payments were lawful and approved by the shareholders. However, there were no written agreements — this had been customary in the company for decades.
During the course of proceedings, the defendant's management style also came into focus. According to witness testimony, he is said to have made virtually all decisions in the company alone. Judge Armin Scheck questioned whether this dominant position could have led employees to raise no objections out of fear of consequences. The concerns of an accountant about a possible dismissal were also discussed. The defendant himself described himself as a determined personality: "I am a dynamic person and knew how to impose my will."
No verdict was reached on Wednesday. The proceedings were adjourned to allow further witnesses to be questioned; furthermore, the appointment of an expert on accounting matters is pending. While the 75-year-old has admitted to individual misconduct, he continues to dispute the unlawfulness of the bonus payments to his son. The defendant is presumed innocent.
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)