Mayor stole to fund gambling habit

The former mayor in Braunau, Upper Austria, the birthplace of Adolf Hitler is to appear in court after taking money from locals to fund his gambling addiction.

Ex-mayor Gerhard Skiba is accused of borrowing almost half a million euros from locals claiming it was for relatives of his abroad who are having financial difficulties, and in reality using the money to spend in local casinos.

He faces up to 10 years in jail for aggravated fraud.

The former mayor admits taking money but denied he intended to misappropriated when it was handed over – saying it wasn’t his intention to be dishonest.