Salzburg prosecutors indict former agriculture chamber director

Salzburg prosecutors have indicted Nikolaus Lienbacher, the former administrative director of the Salzburg Chamber of Agriculture, ORF reported on Tuesday. He is accused of unlawfully arranging a higher salary grade for an employee. The indictment is not yet legally final.

Prosecutors say the chamber suffered financial damage of about 38,400 euros. A further 104,700 euros in higher payments would have accrued by the employee’s retirement, but the indictment treats this part as an attempted offence.

Lienbacher is accused of breach of trust. Prosecutors allege that on June 30, 2025, while serving as director, he abused his authority to dispose of the chamber’s assets by ordering the promotion of a co-accused former department head to a higher salary grade, contrary to internal rules and legal provisions.

The promotion and associated higher salary payments were applied retroactively from August 1, 2023, and the woman also received back payments, prosecutors said.

Proceedings against former department head dropped

Prosecutors also investigated the former department head on suspicion of breach of trust, but dropped the case. They said it could not be proven that she knew the salary increase resulted from a deliberate abuse of authority by Lienbacher.

A separate investigation against the woman on suspicion of suppressing documents was also dropped. She was accused of taking official documents from the chamber after being placed on leave, but prosecutors said the allegation could not be sufficiently proven.

A complaint filed by the former department head against the committee that conducted the hearing to appoint the chamber’s administrative director did not lead to an investigation either. After reviewing the matter, prosecutors found insufficient initial suspicion.

Dismissals in summer 2025

Lienbacher and the former department head were summarily dismissed in summer 2025. The stated reason was a transfer of 38,000 euros to the woman ordered by Lienbacher. Both described it as a retroactive salary payment, while the chamber said the chamber president had not approved it. The dismissals led to legal proceedings before the Labour and Social Court.

A financial shortfall at the Salzburg Chamber of Agriculture also occupied the organisation’s governing bodies and politicians in May 2026. The 2025 financial statement was almost one million euros different from the budget forecast, while the chamber’s debt exceeded 10 million euros. According to the Farmers’ Association, the former chamber leadership was responsible for the finances and for informing the governing bodies. Plans included an internal control system, broader and more regular reporting to the bodies, and an announced programme of spending cuts.