Financial news

Austria court convicts former Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz for giving false evidence to parliament – JURIST

A court in Austria convicted former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Friday for giving false evidence to Parliament while testifying. Magistrate Bernhard Bonelli, Kurz’s former head of cabinet, was also found guilty in the case on one of the four charges against him.Judge Michael Radasztics gave Kurz a suspended sentence of eight months in prison and Bonelli a suspended sentence of six months. Prosecutors charged Kurz with three counts of giving false evidence, but he was only convicted for one of the counts. Radasztics justified the verdict by stating that he did not find Kurz’s testimony credible and that he had nothing to do with the charges against him.In response to the verdict, Kurz said on X (formerly Twitter), “I still stand by the fact that I didn’t do that, and I am confident, that I will be exonerated in the second instance. Thanks to all the supporters for the encouragement over the last few days and weeks!” Kurz also told reporters after the trial that he was surprised by the verdict.The verdict is not final, and an appeals court will review the convictions.In August 2023, Austrian prosecutors charged Kurz with giving false evidence while testifying before a parliamentary committee. The office accused Kurz and Bonelli of giving false testimony before an investigative committee examining corruption allegations against Kurz’s party, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), following the “Ibiza affair.” The scandal emerged after two politicians from the FPÖ were caught on camera offering the exchange of government contracts for the purchase of the Austrian tabloid Kronen Zeitung, as the politicians sought positive coverage.Kurz served twice as the chancellor of Austria, initially from December 2017 to May 2019 and then a second time from January 2020 to October 2021. He also served as Chairman of the FPÖ from 2017–2021 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2013–2017.