Former leader of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) Heinz-Christian Strache will return to court on 25 and 26 November to face charges of bribery in the case involving Casinos Austria's board.
According to the prosecution, Strache and two Novomatic executives accepted bribes in return for influencing the appointment of Peter Sildo, who had ties with the FPÖ. Sildo was appointed in 2019, when the FPÖ was one of Austria's two major political parties.
The investigation began in June 2019 following an anonymous tip. Allegations found there was a supposed agreement between the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the FPÖ and Novomatic to appoint Sildo to the board of the state-owned gambling company Casinos Austria AG.
Central Public Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Economic Crimes and Corruption (WKStA) claimed that Strache was willing to be influenced in his future political role to act in Novomatic's interest.
Indeed, in return for Sildo's appointment, the FPÖ is said to have signalled its willingness to compromise on potential legislative changes regarding small-stakes gambling after the Vienna elections.
Casinos Austria recently appointed a new Director General and Chairman of the Board od Austrian Lotteries, Andreas Bierwirth. With the former Chairman opting to not renew his term and another member choosing to step down, Bierwirth will be one of only to members of the Austrian operator's board.
After Sildo was removed from his position, he filed a lawsuit but ultimately lost at the Supreme Court Level
