Status: October 12, 2021 3:14 p.m.
According to media reports, an opinion researcher was arrested in the course of the corruption investigation into the Austrian ex-Chancellor Kurz. She is said to have played a central role in the creation of embellished surveys.
According to media reports, an opinion researcher was arrested in Austria in the corruption scandal surrounding the conservative ÖVP. A corresponding report by the newspaper “Der Standard” was confirmed to the Austrian news agency APA by lawyers and government circles.
The public prosecutor suspects the pollster to have played a central role in the creation of embellished surveys for the benefit of the ÖVP, which were then placed in the media. Tax money is said to have been embezzled for this. The reason for the arrest is said to be a risk of blackout. According to the newspaper, the accused erased her computer’s hard drive shortly before a house search on October 6th.
The Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office did not confirm the incident. She stated that she was not allowed to answer inquiries about specific investigative measures in ongoing investigative proceedings. The suspect’s lawyer has not yet commented.
Accused deny allegations
The public prosecutor’s office is investigating ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and nine other suspects for possible breach of trust, bribery and corruption. Kurz’s team is said to have organized the 35-year-old’s ascent in the party and government through collaboration with a media company and used tax money for it.
Kurz and the media house vehemently deny the allegations. The ex-chancellor referred to the presumption of innocence, which also applies to him. He justified his resignation with an otherwise impending “stalemate” brought about by the green coalition partner. The Greens had deliberately turned away from him, criticized Kurz.