Criminal Despite Bankruptcy

Suspected Fraud! Pool Builder Squanders Millions

A swimming pool contractor from Lower Austria is said to have squandered at least two million euros—but he clearly hasn’t lost his criminal drive.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/stock.adobe.com)

Despite being on probation following a conviction for a million-euro bankruptcy, a well-known swimming pool builder in Lower Austria apparently continued down the wrong path. He collected advance payments from dozens of victims for “phantom pools.” The criminal investigation department is looking into the matter.

Austria is considered the “land of pools.” According to the local Chamber of Commerce, there are at least 200,000 private swimming pools from Lake Constance to Lake Neusiedl. Added to these are above-ground pools and swimming ponds. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry was abuzz with a gold rush atmosphere.

But there are also a few black sheep among the pool builders. One such individual appears to be a businessman from Lower Austria. He went bankrupt with his pool business, leaving behind two million euros in debt and claims from around 70 creditors.

Since the bankruptcy proceedings were allegedly not conducted properly, the businessman—whose company’s website no longer exists—was sentenced by the Wiener Neustadt Regional Court (not yet final) to one year of probation for fraudulent bankruptcy.

Talked 14 New Victims into “Phantom Pools”
Despite the suspended sentence, however, the suspect appears to have lost none of his criminal drive. He simply continued with his business model. He is said to have talked at least 14 new victims into “phantom pools” and once again pocketed a six-figure sum in euros. Of course, without ever providing any service.

He pocketed the advance payments himself; the bankruptcy trustee saw none of it. As a result, the criminal investigation department is investigating the case again; however, despite the obvious risk of reoffending, the district attorney still sees no grounds for detention.