The abuse of office trial against several ex-top officials of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Combating Terrorism (BVT) continued today with further testimonies. The accused are accused of having accommodated a Syrian general in Austria and procuring asylum for him despite the lack of the prerequisites. The former director general of public security was the first to testify, but he could not remember much.
According to the prosecution, the general was brought to Austria by the Mossad, where he was handed over to BVT officials. At the request of the Israeli foreign intelligence service, officials are said to have obtained asylum for him in Austria.
Will not have been informed about allegations
The Syrian general has been accused of complicity in torturing opponents of the Syrian regime in a prison in Raqqa. In the meantime, the Vienna public prosecutor’s office is also investigating what is happening in the Syrian prison. The director general for public safety at the time, and thus the superior of the BVT director, Peter Gridling, was invited as a witness. He was not informed that the general was accused of war crimes.
“Problems” in witness summonses
There is still no date for the witness questioning of the former deputy director of the BVT. His questioning two weeks ago was not possible because he had given the wrong office address. Difficulties are also likely to have arisen with further deliveries of summons, which is why a judgment is not expected before June. “It is incredibly difficult to invite officials in Austria to their official address,” said the judge jokingly at the beginning of the hearing.
