Pilnacek case

“No pressure from the police” during cell phone search

Pilnacek's body was found five months ago. The rumors continue to swirl.

(Bild: APA/Hans Punz)

Christian Pilnacek's lawyer and a witness contradict reports about the police's search for the former head of the justice section's cell phone shortly after his death.

Peter Pilz is once again causing a stir in the Republic. The former MP gave Karin W., the short-term girlfriend of the deceased head of the justice section Christian Pilnacek, a forum in his online medium "Zackzack". She made serious accusations against the police: shortly after Pilnacek's body was found lifeless on the banks of the Danube on October 20, 2023, the police allegedly searched for Pilnacek's cell phone in her house. The officers allegedly exerted pressure on her to hand over the cell phone. Pilz speculated whether the officers of the State Criminal Police Office wanted to search for explosive data on Pilnacek's cell phone. The SPÖ, NEOS and FPÖ sensed a police scandal.

Pilnacek's lawyer retrieved his cell phone from the police
So much for the background. Now witnesses are coming forward to contradict Karin W.'s version.

Pilnacek's body was found five months ago. The rumors continue to swirl.

(Bild: APA/Hans Punz)

Among them are Rüdiger Schender, Pilnacek's lawyer, and Anna P. - a good friend of Karin W. Anna P. had lived in a shared flat with Pilnacek's short-term girlfriend the previous year. It was also through Anna P., who in turn works in the office of National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP), that the former head of the justice section met his later girlfriend in July 2023.

Three months later, the two women celebrated the anniversary of his death on October 20 side by side. They also went together to the place where the body was found on the banks of the Danube. Near the house of W. In the afternoon at around 2.30 p.m., they both made a statement at the Mautern police station. During the conversation with the officers, Pilnacek's girlfriend mentioned that Pilnacek's cell phone, wallet and apartment key were in her house. "The officer asked if we wanted to contact Pilnacek's family. We replied that we had no contact and that the police should take care of it," Anna P. told "Krone". "There was no pressure from the police," says Anna P..

This raises the question of whether the police are allowed to take these items? According to Section 42 of the Security Police Act, officers are authorized to "seize items that are at risk of being taken away if the owner is unable to protect them themselves". As Pilnacek was dead, this was the case.

Seizure in accordance with the Security Police Act 
The officers collected the items at around 4 pm. "Around 5 p.m., I took the cell phone, apartment keys and wallet from the officers," says Pilnacek's lawyer Schender.

Things could now become unpleasant for Karin W., as the Pilnacek family is considering legal action against her. The fact that Karin W., who describes herself as Pilnacek's partner, did not know the ex-head of justice well after three months of dating is shown by the fact that she gave Pilz an interview. Pilz was Pilnacek's enemy. The former section chief would never have wanted anyone close to him to give Pilz information.