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🇦🇹 Austria /Elections & Politics

Lawyers' president: Defense had 'no other choice' in Grasser case

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The president of the Vienna Bar Association, Peter Csoklich, understands the defense's actions in the Grasser case, stating the rule of law functioned.
  • Grasser's lawyers filed a report alleging possible abuse of office and bribery by Judge Marion Hohenecker, based on allegedly forged emails.
  • Investigations into Hohenecker were dropped as the documents were proven fake; now, the informant faces charges for defamation and fraud.

The president of the Vienna Bar Association, Peter Csoklich, expressed understanding for the defense's actions in the case of former Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser, asserting that the rule of law ultimately functioned.

Grasser's legal team had submitted a detailed report to the public prosecutor's office in June 2025. This report suggested potential abuse of office and bribery involving Judge Marion Hohenecker, who presided over the initial trial. The lawyers presented email printouts, purportedly from Hohenecker, indicating she actively sought Grasser's conviction and had been promised money. Grasser is currently under electronic house arrest following his conviction.

This is not a case of endangering the rule of law, but for me, it is an example where the rule of law has functioned.

— Peter CsoklichThe president of the Vienna Bar Association, Peter Csoklich, commenting on the defense's actions in the Grasser case.

Investigations into Judge Hohenecker concluded in late July, with the case being dismissed. After a year-long review, the submitted documents were determined to be forged. Consequently, authorities are now investigating the informant, a former IT forensic expert from a Viennese law firm, for defamation, evidence tampering, and serious commercial fraud.

Csoklich defended the lawyers' actions, noting their belief that Hohenecker was biased from the start of the Buwog proceedings due to her husband's critical tweets about Grasser. He argued that the defense had no alternative but to present the facts and supporting documents to the public prosecutor. "In a situation like this, based on the press release from the three and the factual report, a lawyer has no other choice than to bring the facts and the submitted documents to the attention of the public prosecutor's office and say: 'I don't know who the real perpetrator is, please investigate,'" Csoklich stated. He countered claims of endangering the rule of law, emphasizing that the legal system's functioning was demonstrated through the process.

In a situation like this, based on the press release from the three and the factual report, a lawyer has no other choice than to bring the facts and the submitted documents to the attention of the public prosecutor's office and say: 'I don't know who the real perpetrator is, please investigate.'

— Peter CsoklichExplaining the necessity for lawyers to report suspicions to the authorities, even if based on potentially false information.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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