Abuse of authority?

Investigation against tax official in Innsbruck

The suspect works at the tax office in Innsbruck.

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer / Kronenzeitung)

The Innsbruck public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation against an official at the Innsbruck tax office on suspicion of abuse of office. The investigation concerns a case that the Ministry of Justice considers relevant for the ongoing COFAG committee of inquiry in parliament.

Public prosecutor's spokesman Hansjörg Mayr confirmed a report in the online edition of the "Tiroler Tageszeitung". The ministry had sent a corresponding notification to the parliamentary groups in the inquiry committee. The ministry is requesting a consultation procedure so that files on the case do not have to be delivered to the U-Committee until later. Spokesperson Mayr confirmed a connection with the COFAG U Committee, but made no further comment, referring to the ongoing, non-public investigation.

Investigations should not concern the Signa affair
According to the report, the current investigations by the public prosecutor's office are not about René Benko or the insolvent Signa. The spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office did not comment on this either.

Signa is said to have saved millions in taxes by relocating
The opposition NEOS had previously targeted Benko and the relocation of Signa's headquarters from Vienna to Innsbruck and the associated change of tax office in 2018. Yannick Shetty, a pink member of the National Council and parliamentary group leader in the COFAG investigation committee, called on Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) to order an internal audit. It is alleged that Signa saved millions in taxes by relocating to Tyrol.

After the investigation came to light, the NEOS politician felt vindicated and continued to establish a link to Benko. He wrote on Twitter that criminal proceedings had now been initiated "against the top Benko auditor at the Innsbruck tax office". He now sees the NEOS suspicions "about improper procedures" at the Innsbruck tax office confirmed. A "senior tax official, together with three tax advisors, is said to have set up a system of preferential treatment for certain favorites", Shetty claimed. In any case, the sub-committee will "continue to work on the investigation."

The committee of inquiry into the Covid financing agency COFAG was set up by the SPÖ and FPÖ. The opposition is particularly interested in funding for so-called "billionaires", such as Benko, who has already confirmed his attendance at the inquiry committee in April.