A meanwhile retired oö. Geistlicher and his protégé are said to have cost more than 30 people a six-figure sum. The public prosecutor’s office in Linz confirmed a report by “Krone” (Wednesday edition). The ex-pastor, who claims to have acted in good faith, was reported at large, the protégé, who is said to have posed as an illiquid heir to millions, is currently in prison anyway.
According to the article, in July an 85-year-old reported to the police in Sankt Georgen an der Gusen in the Mühlviertel because the priest had borrowed 24,000 euros from her but never paid them back. This is how the investigation got underway. These would have shown that a total of 39 mostly older women from Upper and Lower Austria and from Salzburg should have been cheated of larger sums – 32 by the emeritus pastor for a total of 430,000 euros, seven by the 51-year-old with a relevant criminal record for 470,000 euros, what a Total damage amounted to around 900,000 euros.
The public prosecutor’s office in Linz essentially confirmed the article. After several months of investigations, the final report from the police has now been received, which must first be viewed, according to spokesman Florian Roitner for APA. In any case, there were more than 30 victims and six-digit damage. The pastor may have been deceived by the 51-year-old, who repeatedly wanted cash from him for various reasons.
The priest is said to have asked other people for money. At first he said it was for an acquaintance, Roitner reported, but then he is said to have given other reasons himself. But it was always promised to pay back the money. According to “Krone”, his protégé is addicted to gambling and has claimed, among other things, to be an heir to millions, whose money is temporarily parked in an unreachable trust account.
The 51-year-old was arrested. He was initially in custody, but he is now serving a prison sentence for another crime. The pastor emeritus was reported at large. A decision on any charges is still pending.
