This is not regarding the circumstances of Pilnacek’s death – foul play has been ruled out – but rather regarding the removal of personal items by detectives following his death. “The question must be allowed as to whether all sides acted lege artis,” said Kreutner to the “Kurier” on Tuesday. Last week, the deceased’s girlfriend reported in the online medium “zackzack” that a few hours following the body was found, two detectives stood at her door and took his cell phone, wallet and the key to his apartment. According to Pilnacek’s girlfriend, they did not have a security order with them.
Cell phone and valuables taken into custody
Several police officers confirmed to the “Presse” that valuables such as Christian Pilnacek’s cell phone were picked up a few hours following his body was found in his house, handed over to his girlfriend and taken into custody, “although this was not a seizure within the meaning of the Code of Criminal Procedure, but on the basis of the Security Police Act”. This is a routine procedure when a body is found.
Image: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER
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Image: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER
The State Criminal Police Office told the “Kurier” that the items had been handed over to Pilnacek’s widow without analyzing the data. The Krems public prosecutor’s office stated that it had not ordered any items to be confiscated and that there had been no reports of such confiscation by the criminal police. The police are also allowed to seize items on their own initiative, but are obliged to report this to the public prosecutor’s office as soon as proceedings are underway. A procedure was initiated to determine whether there was foul play in Pilnacek’s death, but an autopsy did not produce any corresponding results and the investigation was discontinued.
Based on Kreutner’s statement of facts submitted last week, the Economic and Corruption Public Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) is now likely to examine whether there was a political motive behind the removal of his personal belongings.