A bizarre "career"

Deserter (21) became a fake policeman

A young man from Linz aspired to a career in the army, went astray and then went looking for a quick buck. Because he deserted, i.e. stayed away from the troops without permission, and because of an illegal "career" as a fake policeman, the man is now facing a lot of trouble ...

He was gone, in hiding in the middle of a voluntary weapons exercise in the Hörsching barracks. Untraceable. For days, months. That's why a 21-year-old from Linz, who dreamed of a career in the army, is officially considered a deserter. "It was private circumstances why I didn't show up for duty, but I don't know exactly why," says the corporal, who now works as a construction worker at the Linz regional court, where he also turned up late - this time only a few minutes - for the trial.