Injured himself

No attack? Wanted to put me in the “victim role”

"I made mistakes", Koza now writes in a personal statement.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Screenshot/Facebook.com, Petra Weichhart)

The alleged attack on Vösendorf's mayor Hannes Koza (ÖVP) caused quite a stir - even provincial governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner was outraged. Now comes the surprising turnaround: Koza admits to having put himself in a "victim role" - and resigns as mayor.

The incident took place on December 5 last year: Koza told the "Krone" newspaper that a stranger had passed him in the Schlosspark, knocked him down and threatened to kill him.

Pictures of his injuries caused a stir
His wife shared pictures of his injuries on social media. "You won't survive tomorrow's meeting!", the perpetrator is said to have said - an allusion to the upcoming municipal council meeting.

Following a report, the police launched an investigation. The council meeting was held under increased police protection, but passed without incident. The State Office for State Protection and Counter-Extremism (LSE) took over the case.

Sudden turnaround - Koza now accused himself
However, the situation now appears to be completely different. Koza faked the attack. According to the public prosecutor's office in Wiener Neustadt, he is now no longer listed as a victim, but as a defendant. He has already been summoned for questioning by the police.

Koza's lawyer Sascha Flatz confirmed the admission to the media in the evening. "He actually inflicted the injury himself," he told ORF, for example. His client is to be questioned by the police and the LSE in the coming days. A decision will then be made on a possible criminal complaint on suspicion of faking a punishable offense.

Hannes Koza spoke at length about the alleged crime - his family was in shock, he told the "Krone" at the time.(Bild: Imre Antal)

Koza draws the consequences
Koza now admitted on Facebook that he had made mistakes: "The personal attacks and constant accusations against me and my wife became more instead of less. This situation put more psychological strain on me than I was willing or able to admit." He wanted to put himself in the role of a victim, "in the hope that the personal attacks would finally stop". The politician drew personal conclusions and announced his resignation as mayor.

Editor's note: The "Krone" decided to take previous articles about Koza's statements offline.