2023-08-16 13:06:00
They are accused of manipulating games and thereby damaging the bookmakers. Two accused Americans did not appear at the trial. They went into hiding. The others made several, sometimes surprising, confessions right at the beginning. No judgment is expected to be passed on Wednesday. Details in the video:
The indictment lists at least 20 games where cheating is said to have taken place. The suspected ex-players, who also appeared in court, are five Austrians, two Croatians and one Slovenian, who played for the Superliga club UBSC Graz, among others. Hintermann is a 40-year-old Serb who, according to the indictment, selected players and matches, among other things. He is considered the main culprit and mastermind in the proceedings, although there are other, unknown backers presumably in the Asian betting market, explained public prosecutor Hansjörg Bacher in the opening statement.
Played badly on purpose
“Where there is money to be made, criminal elements are not far away,” said the prosecutor. Similar to the scammers in football betting, the accused succeeded in setting up a fraud system. The fact that the players even played for their own team’s defeats was “most disgusting”. The men deliberately played badly, provoked ball losses and committed fouls in a targeted manner.
At least 20 games affected
The at least 20 games were all from the 2017/2018 season to May 2020. Matches in the Superliga, the highest Austrian basketball division, were mainly affected, but also two international games in the Alpe Adria Cup, Bacher continued. In addition to UBSC Graz, the accused players also “ensconced themselves” with the Panthers from Fürstenfeld and also looked for other players there to take part in the manipulations. The formation of a criminal organization in order to commit fraud and sometimes even serious commercial fraud is accused. Pornographic recordings of minors were also found on a player’s mobile phone, which is why this offense also appears in the indictment.
Three existing confessions were confirmed on Wednesday by the ex-players, the two Croatians and the Slovenian, before judge Andreas Lenz. The five Austrians, on the other hand, largely denied the allegations. Your defense lawyers lacked “any factual substrate” in the indictment. Her clients are in no way involved in a criminal organization. One of the Austrians only admitted to owning and forwarding the pornographic recordings of minors.
Surprising confession
The confession of the alleged mastermind caused a small surprise. He confessed to all of the offenses he was charged with, charging even those players who pleaded not guilty. “He admits his mistake,” said his defender. He’s sorry and wants to take responsibility for it.
While the three men who confessed had already given extensive information in advance, Judge Lenz concentrated on the others during the questioning. A 28-year-old admitted handing money to one of the Croatians: “I knew things weren’t going right, but I didn’t know the details.” He was allowed to keep 500 euros for the handover. It was a “stupid action,” he admitted. A 34-year-old teacher, who used to play basketball in the Superliga, only wants to have done his teammate a favor because he had financial difficulties: “I asked him how the game should end, that’s all.” But he did not receive any money.
“Open Secret” within the League
The 25-year-old, who confessed to the pornographic footage, spoke of an “open secret” within the league: “Everyone knew that the three were manipulating.” He had been asked if he might take part and also involve his teammates. When they didn’t want to, he declined the offer. The surprising, fully comprehensive confession of the mastermind remained without many words, because according to his defense attorney he was being put under pressure by the Chinese betting mafia. Therefore, the 40-year-old Serb did not want to give any further information.
The trial once morest the two Americans who did not appear was eliminated. A verdict for the others was no longer to be expected on Wednesday.
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