The former “SoKo Tape” investigator Niko R. has been invited to provide information on the Ibiza-U-Committee. He was noticed by an encouraging SMS to ex-Vice Chancellor Strache.
On Thursday, the Ibiza investigation committee will once again focus on the investigation of the “SoKo Tape” and its relationship with the Economic and Corruption Public Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA).
With Niko R. that employee was invited who was repeatedly reported in the media because of his encouraging SMS to ex-FPÖ boss Heinz-Christian Strache (“I hope to resign from my resignation”) or because of his actions in the “shredder case” .
“No friendly relationship”
He regrets the SMS meanwhile. It was a “rash action” among friends, emphasizes Niko R. He has no friendly relationship with Strache or Gudenus. He knows the ex-FPÖ boss from a charity event of the police union in the Rossauer barracks and “the red carpet at the Opera Ball”, where he was responsible for security. He had informed SoKo manager Andreas Holzer about the SMS before joining the investigative team, R. did not see the SMS as a bias.
In his approach to the shredder affair – although he checked the apartment of the shredding Chancellor employee Arno M., he did not secure his laptop or cell phone – R. saw no reason for self-criticism. “Would you say that was a successful official act?” Asked Christian Ries, a member of the FPÖ, who has been a detective himself for many years. Niko R. saw no reason to seize the cell phone, as there was no connection for him to the Ibiza video and the suspect did not hand over his cell phone voluntarily. The idea of obtaining an order from the WKStA did not occur to him.
Ex-Director of the ÖVP Academy also on the U-Committee
Political advisor Dietmar Halper is invited as the second person providing information. The former director of the Political Academy of the ÖVP should provide information about whether he was offered the Ibiza video.
SoKo boss Andreas Holzer, who was also invited to provide information, had previously canceled due to illness.
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