ARCHIVE – Austria’s former Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser. Photo: Hans Klaus Techt/APA/dpa/Archive picture
Keystone
Former Austrian Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser has started a four-year prison sentence following his conviction in a bribery trial.
This was reported by the APA news agency according to the Innsbruck prison, where the former FPÖ politician is now being held.
The once popular politician was finance minister from 2000 to 2007. In March, the Supreme Court confirmed in an appeal trial that he was guilty of embezzlement and accepting gifts in the course of the sale of state-owned real estate.
A total of 9.6 million euros in bribes flowed from the successful bidder via tax havens to Grasser and other convicted defendants.
House arrest possible after one year in prison
Under Austrian law, Grasser could be released early after just two years – he could serve the second year in house arrest with an ankle monitor. However, the government is currently planning an amendment to the law that would allow Grasser to leave prison even earlier. Grasser, who is now 56 years old, reaffirmed his innocence after the end of the trial and spoke of a miscarriage of justice.