Wolf and former finance minister face corruption trial
Monday 19th October 2026 on 06:45 in
Austria
Industrialist Siegfried Wolf and former Austrian finance minister Hans-Jörg Schelling go on trial on Tuesday at the regional court in Wiener Neustadt over alleged corruption, ORF reports. Eleven hearing days are scheduled through December 17.
The Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office alleges that Wolf promised in summer 2018 to use his influence at the Finance Ministry to secure a senior appointment for a tax official. In return, prosecutors say, he asked her to approve a tax reduction of 630,000 euros, covering income tax and interest claims for 2006 to 2011.
The official, now 65, is accused of abuse of office and accepting a bribe. Prosecutors say she issued a tax-favourable decision without meeting the required conditions and without consulting the ministry’s responsible specialist department. Wolf is charged with bribery and inciting abuse of office.
According to the indictment, Wolf contacted then-ministry secretary-general Thomas Schmid and later Schelling to support the official’s appointment. Wolf denies the allegations and has argued that no financial loss occurred because the 630,000 euros was not a legally owed tax debt. He is not currently commenting publicly.
Prosecutors accuse Schelling of contacting Schmid several times by phone and asking him to intervene for Wolf in the tax matter. The indictment cites Schelling’s friendship with Wolf and alleges he exerted improper influence, partly to advance his own career. Prosecutors also say Wolf arranged an advisory contract for Schelling with the project company building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
Schelling’s lawyer, Caroline Kindl, says her client was not involved in any corrupt arrangements and that there is no connection between his conduct and the allegations. She argues that even if Schelling did advocate for Wolf after leaving office, which she says has not been proven, he did not act unlawfully.
The prosecution relies mainly on statements by Schmid, who also implicated himself and was granted cooperating-witness status in 2024. Seized chat messages also implicate Wolf, Schelling and the tax official. Schmid is due to testify on November 30.
The case also involves the late Christian Pilnacek, a former senior Justice Ministry official. A forensic review of electronic devices seized after his death found that, after his suspension in 2021, he had become involved in the investigation into Wolf in a way that favoured the accused.