465:, cites police investigation reports that links Grasser not just to the 500,000 Euros he confessed to bringing, in a suitcase, across the border to Liechtenstein during his tenure as Austrian Federal Minister of Finance, but to a total of 1.6 million Euro that were found in offshore bank accounts (allegedly, as Grasser claims, to make an investment "for his mother-in-law"). In August 2013, Austrian finance police has expressed serious doubt as to the source of the 20 cash transfers amounting to the 1.6 million Euros now identified by Austrian police after almost five years of investigation. The irregularities and sums involved, the fact that substantial sums were directed—always via offshore and Liechtenstein bank accounts or in suitcases—in highly complex investment constructions linked to dummy companies seems to point towards a mesh of corruption and embezzling that might become one of the biggest personal corruption scheme in post-WWII Austria.
151:
375:, he was generally perceived as the young and competent figure needed to shake up the traditional ways of the ruling parties that were becoming increasingly unpopular. From early on in Grasser's tenure as Finance Minister there have been recurring suspicions of backroom deals between Grasser and some of his political and business friends. The first major case was the affair behind the financing of Grasser's personal homepage in 2004.
25:
477:
painstaking research into
Grasser's complex of mailbox companies in offshore locations and in Liechtenstein (which is independent from the Austrian judicial system) by the Austrian Federal Financial Police, Grasser's explanation that he did not understand the constructions but followed the advice of his accountant, seem, given his background in Finance and his role as Austrian Finance Minister, doubtful.
383:
Meanwhile, in
January 2011, new and continuing investigations by Austrian district attorneys into suspicions of kickback schemes and backroom deals and, in certain cases, alleged manipulation of federal spending figures to syphon money to his allies have brought Grasser in front of the Austrian media
444:
On 26 May 2011, Austrian
Finance police searched ten of Grasser's private and business dwellings on suspicion of embezzling up to 3 million euro from the Austrian tax system during and after his time as finance minister. Finance police removed 35 boxes of files, computers and mobile phones. If found
344:
and the
Freedom Party. At that time, he was the youngest minister of finance ever to hold office in Austria. When the coalition broke up in 2002, Grasser left his party, but after national elections in November and the reestablishment of the coalition under the lead of a strengthened People's Party,
476:
reported on
Grasser potentially facing up to 10 years in prison for tax evasion and tax fraud, in addition to fines that may amount up to 20 million Euros. It has been unheard of in post-WWII Austria that a former minister would potentially face such stiff sentencing, though, after five years of
436:
quotes from police reports that
Grasser, between 2005 and 2007 during his tenure as finance minister of the Republic of Austria, on three occasions personally carried "cases of cash" from Switzerland to Austria. Grasser said that the money was given to him, in cash, by his future mother in law,
410:
published transcripts of police recordings of
Grasser's telephone conversations with one of his friends, Walter Meischberger, in which Meischberger could not describe the services for which he was paid hundreds of thousands of euros by the Porr construction company, the phrase "Was war meine
401:
Regardless of the outcome of the large number of court cases filed by district attorneys against
Grasser and by Grasser against individuals), it seems clear that his public image as the "new-and-squeaky-clean" politician of a new era has been tarnished once and for all. After Green MP
275:
crystal manufacturers in Tyrol, Austria. While at the time praised by many for, in
Grasser's words "consolidating Austria's budget", he has since then been known for his involvement in major corruption scandals. In 2020, Grasser was sentenced to 8 years in prison for corruption.
423:
the legal protection from prosecution of former politicians is confronted with rumours about
Grasser's alleged quagmire of corruption. It will be seen if the Austrian judicial system is up to the task. At present, in an interview by Grasser with the Austrian radio station
453:
As of 27 May 2011, the Austrian judiciary has not launched a court challenge against Grasser. Already, this affair has become one of the most opaque and dubious money and embezzlement schemes in the public eye. In August 2013, new details have come to light.
496:, But instead engaged in a number of small-scale lobbying and investment firms, most of which were short-lived, including Meinl International Power, Valora Solutions, SMW OG, and a real estate company GPS.
428:
on 22 January 2011, Grasser threatened to sue anyone who criticized his behaviour. "Nothing will come of ", Grasser said. Instead, he is suing a number of people and announcing that he will sue others.
448:
Grasser, who was abroad at the time of the searches, maintains his innocence. Delivering messages via his attorney to the Austrian media, Grasser describes the case as a "politically motivated act".
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guilty, Grasser would face up to ten years in federal prison, would have to pay back the money and face hefty fines in the million euro range (as a percentage of the non-declared income).
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On 9 January 2007, Grasser announced his departure from politics to return to the private sector. He was considering a position in investment banking at
458:, Grasser's friend and Freedom party associate, was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for embezzlement charges (the ruling can still be appealed).
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985:[Karl-Heinz Grasser's jobs: Administrator for an anonymous "wealthy person": Valora Solutions, Valuecreation, MIP and now SMW OG].
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847:[Grasser is supposed to become an investment banker] (in German). Austria: Vorarlberg Online. 9 January 2007. Archived from
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Finanzminister Karl-Heinz Grasser (V) soll Banker bei der internationalen Investmentfirma Salomon Smith Barney werden.
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In Austrian quality newspapers, Grasser's case is now seen as a test of credibility for the Austrian judicial system:
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Grasser remains a controversial figure. While supporters argue that he successfully consolidated Austria's
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http://derstandard.at/1295570595183/OeFB-Grasser--Co-sollen-Nationalrat-um-eine-Million-getaeuscht-haben
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from February 2000 to January 2007 as a member of the two subsequent governments of
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Grasser again became minister, this time being nominated by the People's Party.
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of economics. His immaculate appearance, his smooth-talking dynamism, and his
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http://derstandard.at/1328162536029/Schwiegermutter-belastet-Grasser-schwer
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at first and later associated with but never officially a member of the
705:"Trend. Das Wirtschaftsmagazin. Das Wirtschaftsportal. | trend.at"
677:"Trend. Das Wirtschaftsmagazin. Das Wirtschaftsportal. | trend.at"
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arranged a public reading of the transcripts by a group of comedians.
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356:. Grasser's policies and philosophy as a finance minister suggest a
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On 5 May 2011, new allegations have to come to light. The magazine
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868:[Grasser is supposed to become an investment banker].
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Austria: Former finance minister Grasser jailed for corruption
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from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially
963:[Investigation in the tax haven: "Late, but still"].
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from 1988 to 1992. He soon joined the far right nationalist
411:
Leistung?" (What was my service ?) entered popular usage.
823:"Austria's finance minister says he's quitting politics"
801:"Austria's finance minister says he's quitting politics"
480:
In December 2020 he was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
271:
person after marrying Fiona Swarovski, the heir of the
384:
once more. These reports have been spearheaded by the
368:
antics have made him hugely popular with the public.
961:"Untersuchung im Steuerparadies: "Spät, aber doch""
378:
308:of Carinthia in 1994, but after a dispute with his
394:. More details on the allegations can be found on
398:. Grasser maintains his innocence on all counts.
1038:
937:"Causa Grasser: Ermittlungen wieder ausgeweitet"
360:stance. He is a self-proclaimed follower of the
874:(in German). Vienna, Austria. 8 February 2007.
719:"Abgabenbetrug: Grasser drohen zehn Jahre Haft"
921:(in German). Vienna, Austria. Archived from
913:"Meinl-Grasser-Haider: Ein Trio unter Strom"
267:. For some time, Grasser was some kind of a
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512:
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340:, when a coalition was formed between the
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56:about living persons that is unsourced or
896:(in German). 13 June 2007. Archived from
515:"Ein Kassasturz, der (noch) nicht wehtut"
127:Learn how and when to remove this message
890:"Grasser hat seinen "Hauptjob" gefunden"
352:, critics see him as incompetent and an
371:During the early year of his tenure as
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993:from the original on 14 December 2020.
971:from the original on 14 December 2020.
866:"Grasser soll Investmentbanker werden"
845:"Grasser soll Investmentbanker werden"
811:from the original on 14 December 2020.
761:
331:
878:from the original on 27 October 2020.
751:from the original on 7 December 2020.
729:from the original on 7 December 2020.
441:Crystal company, a claim she denies.
182:February 2000 – January 2007
1062:Freedom Party of Austria politicians
798:
776:from the original on 24 August 2013.
18:
799:Kole, William J. (9 January 2007).
259:), who held the office of Austrian
13:
949:from the original on 19 July 2010.
247:(born 2 January 1969) is a former
14:
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1077:21st-century Austrian politicians
911:Himmelbauer, Leo (13 June 2007).
829:. 9 January 2007. Archived from
764:"Grasser drohen zehn Jahre Haft"
741:"KHG und die "GeschwĂĽrstiftung""
468:On 22 August 2013, the magazine
379:Corruption trials and conviction
336:However, in 2000 he returned to
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762:Möchel, Kid (22 August 2013).
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461:The Austrian monthly magazine
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725:(in German). 22 August 2013.
604:Austrian Times, December 2010
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472:and Austrian daily newspaper
304:and became the second deputy
1057:Finance ministers of Austria
827:International Herald Tribune
34:biography of a living person
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1072:Politicians from Klagenfurt
1019:Finance Minister of Austria
989:(in German). 15 July 2008.
967:(in German). 15 July 2008.
945:(in German). 14 July 2010.
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747:(in German). 27 May 2011.
513:josef.votzi (2018-03-21).
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294:business administration
302:Austrian Freedom Party
48:Please help by adding
925:on 24 September 2008.
807:. Associated Press.
635:, February 4, 2012.
563:Hans Rauscher 2011.
546:(in Austrian German)
490:Salomon Smith Barney
76:"Karl-Heinz Grasser"
54:Contentious material
900:on 5 November 2016.
622:on 29 January 2011.
616:"Ă–1 web radio live"
396:Knowledge in German
332:Minister of finance
292:, where he studied
166:Minister of Finance
1004:Political offices
245:Karl-Heinz Grasser
200:Karl-Heinz Grasser
143:Karl-Heinz Grasser
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265:Wolfgang SchĂĽssel
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1047:1969 births
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354:opportunist
314:Jörg Haider
1041:Categories
1023:2000–2007
894:Die Presse
550:2024-09-19
525:2024-09-19
500:References
391:Der Falter
358:neoliberal
286:Klagenfurt
87:newspapers
789:BBC, 2020
519:kurier.at
494:Citigroup
439:Swarovski
290:Carinthia
273:Swarovski
178:In office
39:citations
991:Archived
969:Archived
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876:Archived
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774:Archived
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727:Archived
338:politics
306:governor
249:Austrian
231:Children
65:libelous
388:weekly
296:at the
269:jet set
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170:Austria
101:scholar
805:Taiwan
769:Kurier
470:Format
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413:Falter
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386:Vienna
366:yuppie
310:mentor
206:Spouse
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492:, of
318:Magna
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108:JSTOR
94:books
32:This
406:and
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196:Born
80:news
41:for
257:Ă–VP
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168:of
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