Mother and Grandmother in Custody

Abuse: “Gunkl” Paid €150,000 in Hush Money

Günther Paal is charged with alleged child abuse. A woman and her mother are in pretrial detention and are suspected of extortion.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Robert Peres, APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER, stock.adobe.com)

The abuse case in the cultural scene uncovered by the “Krone” is developing into one of the most sensational criminal cases in recent times. A mother-daughter duo has been charged with “aggravated extortion,” while Günther “Gunkl” Paal has been charged with “child abuse” and “possession of child abuse files”—both cases are being tried together.

Attorney Florian Höllwarth had his hands full on Wednesday. After the “Krone” uncovered the new, shocking case involving alleged child abuse by cabaret artist Günther Paal, alias “Gunkl,” his cell phone has been ringing off the hook every minute. 

Blackmail had been going on for over a year
The case is truly turning out to be one of the most spectacular criminal cases in recent history. At its center is a TV celebrity who was blackmailed and is also the perpetrator—as has now come to light from the mother and grandmother of the child he is alleged to have abused in early 2025.

It was not a case of rape, and it was a one-time incident. Some of the allegations date back 13 years.

Florian Höllwarth vertritt den beschuldigten TV-Star.

According to reports, the girl is now five years old. About a year and a half ago, an acquaintance of the artist decided to blackmail him. When the pressure on the cabaret star became too much, he filed a police report and turned himself in in May.

Paal Admits to Abuse
“I have photos,” the woman told Paal, thereby extorting tens of thousands of euros from him in several installments. However, these images likely do not actually exist. The charge is for 189,000 euros; more than 150,000 euros were actually paid. The handcuffs clicked when the final installment of 30,000 euros was handed over. 

Name Disclosure

You may be wondering why the suspect’s name was not initially mentioned in the first article. To explain: In the Teichtmeister case as well, the “Krone” knew long before the indictment was filed that the serious allegations concerned him. Nevertheless, we decided to report anonymously during the initial stages of the investigation.

In the current case, ORF has made the name of its former star public. Furthermore, charges have been filed. Therefore, we are also naming the alleged perpetrator.

The young victim’s mother was arrested in June, and her own mother was arrested in July as an accomplice. Both remain in pretrial detention; an indictment (not yet final) was filed on Wednesday. The women face one to ten years in prison. 

Charges Filed Against All Three
Charges have now also been filed against Paal, the victim of blackmail, whom we are therefore now also naming. He faces six months to five years in prison. Both cases will be heard together at the Vienna Regional Court; a date for the trial has not yet been set.

As reported, “Gunkl” is believed to have confessed to the abuse. During a search of his home, files depicting the abuse of minors were also seized—960 images and 19 videos, according to court spokeswoman Christina Salzborn. “This offense also presupposes intent to possess, which my client no longer had,” says Höllwarth, adding that some of these allegations date back 13 years. 

My clients are distraught that the children have been taken away. The mother deeply regrets all of this.

Für das Mutter-Tochter-Gespann: Rechtsvertreter Werner Wendt von der Kanzlei Mag. Hubert Wagner.

Bild: Zwefo

Meanwhile, the two women are being represented by Werner Wendt of the law firm of Mag. Hubert Wagner: “My clients are devastated that the children were taken away. The mother deeply regrets all of this,” said Wendt.