Ibizagate scam: Ex-Vice-chancellor of Austria Heinz-Christian Strache gets 15-month jail

former vice-chancellor of Austria, Heinz-Christian Strache, has been sentenced to 15-month imprisonment on corruption charges. This came after a Vienna court found former chancellor guilty of giving political favour to a hospital and trying to change laws to favour a private hospital in exchange for donations. According to media reports, judge Claudia Moravec-Loidolt announced that Strache manipulated system in exchange for party donations worth up to €12,000 and a lucrative offer of a yacht holiday in Corfu.

Former vice-chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache found guilty in 'Ibizagate' case

former FPO leer, who served as vice-chancellor of Australia from 2017 to 2019, was first caught in a sting operation that shook Austrian politics to core. 6-hour-long-secret recording exposed Austrian leer as he was seen discussing dirty politics he wanted to play for 2017 elections. sting operation is popular with name "Ibizgate" scandal. Strache was accompanied by a woman who presented herself as niece of a Russian oligarch who was rey to invest in Austria in drunken meeting. At same meeting, Strache was offered hefty financial assistance for running his campaign in exchange for manipulation of law. He was asked to change Austrian law if he came to power in favour of hospital so that all public tenders go into account of that hospital. A hidden camera captured meeting, and video clip was later released to media in 2019, which resulted in Austria's government collapse. Meanwhile, re are several or stories as well, which came to light after investigation.

Notably, after Strache's party came into power, law was amended as discussed in drunken party. new law introduced by Strache's government helped hospitals like Grubmuller to receive money from public health insurance fund. He is also accused of misusing party funds to pay for his luxurious lifestyle during his 14 years at party.

Image Credit: AP