Sentence passed

“Fateful day” for former WK boss Walser

Christoph Walser stood trial on Thursday.(Bild: Johanna Birbaumer)

Christoph Walser (50) stood trial at Innsbruck Provincial Court on Thursday. According to the indictment, the former WK president and transport entrepreneur allegedly evaded around 1.1 million euros in taxes and paid wages "illegally". The verdict is now final.

The 50-year-old sat visibly crestfallen in the foyer before the trial began. He did not hide, greeting familiar faces with a cautious "hello". His old life as WK president, mayor of the municipality of Thaur near Innsbruck and president of the Tyrolean Tennis Association was long gone by then. The father of four is now divorced and his debts were initially estimated at 1.4 million euros.

Christoph Walser waited outside the courtroom. He appeared reserved.(Bild: Johanna Birbaumer)

His personal details were discussed at the start of the trial. He was still the managing director of his company, CWA Transporte GmbH, and received a gross salary of 3,000 euros. He was also marginally employed at his ex-wife's bed company, where he earned 500 euros.

I want to pay back the debts.

Ex-WK-Chef Christoph Walser

The background to this serious case is tax evasion amounting to 1.1 million euros with his transport company. This was heard in camera, as is often the case with financial offenses.

The other charges were brought in the afternoon: When it all came to light, Walser tried to falsify evidence. And a now 83-year-old employee, who had to endure a house search, was to be framed for the malversation. This was charged as defamation. Walser denied it ("I'm still friends with him today"). The public prosecutor conceded that the defendant had also "slipped into this" through the advice of his first lawyer.

Walser took his seat in the courtroom.(Bild: Johanna Birbaumer)

From "black" wages to revenue tricks"
It was like a whirlpool downwards", Walser himself summarized the events - and made an extensive confession. Specifically, he had faked operating expenses, concealed income and paid wages "in the black". As an honorable man who should have been a role model in the country.

This morning, Walser's defense lawyer, Albert Heiss, requested that the issue of tax evasion be heard in camera.(Bild: Johanna Birbaumer)

Large sums to be paid, but no prison sentence
After around five hours of proceedings, the panel of lay judges under Judge Paul Menardi retired to deliberate. In the end, Walser was sentenced to six months' conditional imprisonment and a fine of 3,600 euros for the criminal offenses. He must also pay 300,000 euros for the financial offense - half of which is conditional. The 1.1 million euros he evaded from the tax office must also be repaid within a certain period of time. Lawyer Albert Heiss applied for installment payments for both fines. Walser's transport company currently has nine trucks. 

Steep career and deep fall

• Christoph Walser is the youngest of three children, his father comes from Ischgl. From 1991 to 1994, he completed an apprenticeship as a forwarding agent at Kapeller in Innsbruck.
• After the army, he joined the freight forwarding company Gebrüder Weiss, where he met his wife in 2001.
• In 2005 he became self-employed and started the company CWA Transporte with one truck.
• He has been a member of Thaur municipal council since 2004 and became mayor in 2016. In the second council election, he wins a landslide 70 percent of the vote.
• In 2015, Walser becomes WK district leader in Innsbruck-Land
• On November 14, 2018, Walser was elected President of the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce at the age of 44. He is repeatedly brought into play as a possible provincial governor.
• 22 January 2022: The "Krone" is in charge of reporting the first rumors that the company CWA Transporte has massive problems. Walser rejects this - "character assassination".
• On November 10, 2023, Walser resigns from all his functions in a personal statement, including that of President of the Tyrolean Tennis Association.
• October 21, 2024: The public prosecutor's office officially presses charges. This marks the end of the 50-year-old's previous life, and the criminal trial follows.

Employee charged, but acquitted
The second defendant was acquitted by the court. According to the reasoning, he did not knowingly contribute to Walser's tax evasion. Both verdicts are not yet legally binding because the public prosecutor asked for time to reflect.