The trial of ex-minister Sophie Karmasin ended on Tuesday with an acquittal and a conviction. The trial was considered the overture to a series of court arias on Ibiza, Casag and Co. And as a pointer. One finding: the court considers the key witness to be credible.
It was a remarkable (non-final) verdict in the trial of former family minister and pollster Sophie Karmasin. The 56-year-old was acquitted of serious fraud – she is said to have received continued payments in the first phase after leaving politics and illegally earned them at the same time. In total around 80,000 euros. The judge argued that you paid back just in time before the investigation started. Lawyer Sascha Flatz: “That could have a role model effect.” Many observers were amazed. In the case of fraud, they would have expected a conviction rather than in the price agreements for studies for the Ministry of Sports. Here it sat 15 months conditionally. The judge attested key witness Sabine Beinschab, once Karmasin’s comrade-in-arms and key figure in student affairs, to have a high degree of credibility. “That could have a role model effect,” says criminal defense attorney Sascha Flatz, who was on site at the trial. “Even if every judge is free to assess the evidence, this points the way for the following processes. Lawyer Klaus Ainedter: “Looks like Cinderella” The Causa Karmasin is just an overture to a series of court arias on Ibiza, Casag and Co. – Beinschab also plays a central role in proceedings for embellished studies in the sense of Sebastian Kurz. Funded by the Treasury. In addition to the ex-chancellor and Karmasin, there are eight other suspects. It is the presumption of innocence. Some lawyers see the key witness as problematic. Klaus Ainedter: “It seems to me that she sees herself as Cinderella. And she is leading a revenge campaign against Karmasin.” Norbert Wess, the ex-minister’s lawyer, did not want to comment. The WKStA reported yesterday that it had not yet decided whether it would appeal the verdict.
