A 50-year-old man with Serbian roots was sentenced to four years’ unconditional imprisonment at the Vienna Regional Court on Wednesday for breaking into the Vienna apartment of Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP).
The man, who had been convicted several times, accepted the verdict following consultation with defense attorney Peter Philipp and said goodbye to the media representatives present with a polite and irritating “goodbye.”Vienna.
The public prosecutor also agreed with the sanction. The judgment is therefore already legally binding.
The defendant and an initially unknown accomplice gained access to Edtstadler’s apartment in a professional manner by breaking open the security door with a lever tool and a pressure plate on August 23, 2023.
The two then gathered valuables worth around 8,000 euros from the premises and were just regarding to remove the loot from the apartment when they noticed the criminal police arriving at the address.
Alarm system installed
Edtstadler had taken additional security measures that called the police into action. The burglars made a hasty escape with 60 euros in cash and a WiFi camera. However, the 50-year-old was subsequently tracked down and arrested based on DNA traces left at the crime scene.
Edtstadler was not present
Edtstadler was not present at the hearing. Due to the defendant’s admitted responsibility, the public prosecutor’s office and defense had already waived their right to examine witnesses in advance. The presiding judge of a jury panel therefore did not invite the minister.
