Eurofighter proceedings come to an end
The Vienna Higher Regional Court has rejected complaints against the discontinuation of the investigation into suspected fraud in the procurement of the Eurofighter in 2003 and the settlement in 2007 by the Regional Court for Criminal Matters. The last complaints came from the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA) and the Republic of Austria. This means that all criminal investigations into suspected fraud in connection with the procurement of the Eurofighter in Austria have been terminated, according to Wolfgang Peschorn, President of the Financial Prosecutor's Office. The discontinuation was ultimately based on the fact that the Austrian prosecution authorities had not been able to demonstrate the justified suspicion of fraud against the Republic of Austria through sufficient investigation results of their own in the three-and-a-half-year investigation to date to justify a continuation of the criminal investigation. The President of the Financial Prosecutor's Office, who led the proceedings for the Republic, showed no understanding for the discontinuation of the investigation. However: "Court decisions create facts that must be accepted," continued Peschorn. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner agrees. Nevertheless, she cannot understand the decision. "It is clear that this will mean that many things will remain in the dark and possible crimes will not be solved. "With our current helicopter procurement, which we are carrying out government-to-government, we are showing how such procurement can be carried out cleanly, transparently and properly," Tanner continued.
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