Corrupt juridical officers suspended
More than 20 court officials are facing charges for corruption, it has been reported.Viennese newspapers report today (Fri) that 23 people working for juridical authorities must brace themselves for disciplinary procedures or court cases over their wrongdoings. The dailies claim that the suspected staff, of whom the majority have already been suspended, are accused of passing on internal information to defendants in business crimes.The federal justice ministry explained it planned to increase its security standards to avoid secret data being passed on by corrupt staff.Meanwhile, Transparency International (TI) said every eleventh Austrian admitted having bribed authorities in 2009. The non-government organisation (NGO) also found that, with 49 per cent, nearly one in two Austrians believe that corruption in the country is set to rise.TI Austria head Franz Fiedler pointed out he was “worried” about developments in Austria. “I get the impression we dont take the issue seriously,” the former Federal Audit Office (RH) chief said.