A 58-year-old man with Kosovar citizenship has been sentenced to 15 months of partial imprisonment by the Regional Court in St. Pölten, Austria, for unjustly claiming social benefits.
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| Three Austrian policemen next to a police car |
This time, the man faced charges for large-scale fraud. According to reports from Kronen Zeitung, he failed to disclose extended periods spent outside Austria while continuing to claim unemployment benefits. Over the period from January 2023 to May 2024, he reportedly spent up to 66 consecutive days in Kosovo, despite receiving around €10,000 in emergency assistance and sick pay from Austrian social programs.
When questioned in court, the man justified his absences by stating, "My mother was sick." Authorities also noted that attempts to locate him at his registered address were unsuccessful, as it turned out to be a fake address with no personal belongings or documents found there.
When asked whether he knew that he was not entitled to unemployment benefits while abroad, the defendant admitted, "Yes! But I had to go. What’s done is done. What else can be done now?"
The court sentenced him to 15 months of partial imprisonment. After serving three months in prison, the defendant will have the opportunity to work under a monitored release program with an electronic ankle bracelet. The judge concluded by encouraging the defendant to seek employment, stating, "This could be a motivation for you to find work."