After his mother suffered two strokes, a dental technician wanted to give his mother the best possible treatment. He carefully concealed the fact that the 51-year-old could not afford the 46,000 euro rehabilitation in the Styrian private clinic. Now he was on trial for fraud.
“I’ve been putting it off for ages. But I think I’ll finally sort it out in the next few weeks,” the defendant said in court in Graz on Wednesday. “You’ve been saying that for a long time,” replied judge Verena Oswald. “I think you just can’t pay that.” He has owed a private clinic 46,000 euros since 2022. “I thought I’d figure it out!” After two strokes, the insurance company agreed to finance rehabilitation in a private clinic for his seriously ill mother. But the insurance only paid for one month. The son signed for the second month. “I thought I would find the money somehow,” he explains. “Just saw the wonderful care” “Difficult, right? They had executions going on and a low income,” says the judge. “I believe you that it wasn’t intentional, but it’s enough if you knew they couldn’t pay it.” – “I just saw the wonderful care and how well she was doing there.” – “Morally and emotionally “It’s understandable, but they have caused a lot of damage,” the chairwoman empathetically explains. “I promise solemnly that I will pay,” asserts the Lower Austrian. “In two or three weeks at the latest, everything or divided into tranches…” The judge has concerns: “You had enough time.” But she also shows understanding for the exceptional situation. Two years time to pay “I offer you without conviction a probationary period of two years. You are not allowed to do anything and you will be ordered to pay the entire amount over the course of two years.” After the probationary period has expired, confirmation of payment must be on the judge’s table. “If not, we’ll see each other again and then you’ll be convicted!” The public prosecutor agrees and the defendant thanks him profusely. “I’ll pay, I promise,” he calls out as he leaves.
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