Prosecution Files Appeal Against Strache's Acquittal in Life Insurance Case

The insurance policy originally provided that Strache's mother and his children would be compensated in the event of his death. In the event of survival, however, the money was to flow back to the party. According to the charge, Strache and his co-defendant had the latter point altered in his favor through an agreement.

Reasoning Behind the Acquittal

In the verdict's reasoning, the presiding judge put the amount of the life insurance in question at 940,000 euros. Strache had viewed a life insurance policy in his name worth 940,000 euros as "financial security," the judge had reasoned in delivering the verdict.

According to APA, the court's reasoning for the verdict stated: "It cannot be proven that Strache intended to appropriate the sum against the will of the party." Specifically, it is "simply not refutable" that Strache understood the life insurance as financial security. The acquittal was issued on this basis.

Outcome of the Appeal Proceedings Remains Open

With the appeal, the prosecution is holding to its line and making the acquittal contestable at the next instance. A higher court will now have to rule on the appeal, whereby both Strache and his co-defendant are considered innocent until a legally binding verdict is reached.

The "Life Insurance" case is only one of several proceedings in which Strache has appeared as a suspect or defendant in recent years. The outcome of the current appeal proceedings therefore remains open and is not expected for several months or years.

The Vienna state party itself had taken out the insurance policy; the prosecution views the fact that Strache signed on both sides as central evidence of a "self-dealing transaction." Whether this argument will hold up at the next instance now depends on the legal assessment of the appeals court.