46,000 euros still outstanding

Fraud charge after rehab in a private clinic

The mother of the Lower Austrian had suffered two strokes shortly before her death.

(Bild: sudok1/stock.adobe.com)

After his mother suffered two strokes, a dental technician wanted to give his mother the best possible treatment. The 51-year-old was careful to conceal the fact that he could not afford the 46,000 euro rehabilitation at the private clinic in Styria. Now he was on trial for fraud.  

"I put it off for ages. But I think I'll finally sort it out in the next few weeks," said the defendant in court in Graz on Wednesday. "You've been saying that for a long time," replies Judge Verena Oswald. "I think you simply can't pay that." He has owed a private clinic 46,000 euros since 2022. 

"Thought I'd find the money!"
After two strokes, the insurance company agreed to finance his seriously ill mother's rehabilitation in a private clinic. But the insurance company only paid for one month. The son signed up for the second month. "I thought that I would find the money somehow," he explains. 

It was a blow of fate, I understand that. But you had executions pending, you had been garnished to subsistence level. How did you think you would be able to pay that?"

Staatsanwalt Philipp Konwalin

"Just saw the wonderful care"
"Difficult, isn't it? You had executions pending, a low income," says the judge. "I believe you that it wasn't intentional, but it's enough if you knew you couldn't pay it." - "I just saw the wonderful care and how well she was doing there." - "Morally and emotionally it's understandable, but they've done a lot of damage," the chairwoman clarifies empathetically.

"I promise in all sincerity that I will pay," affirms the Lower Austrian. "In two or three weeks at the latest, in full or in installments..." The judge has reservations: "You've had enough time." But she also shows understanding for the exceptional situation.

Two years to pay
"I'm offering you a probationary period of two years without a conviction. You're not allowed to do anything during that time and you'll be required to pay the full amount during the two years." At the end of the probationary period, a confirmation of payment must be on the judge's desk. "If not, we'll meet again and then you'll be sentenced!"

The prosecutor agrees, the defendant thanks him effusively. "I'll pay, I promise," he shouts on his way out.