Nine Romanian and Hungarian truck drivers risk prison terms after stealing more than 500,000 euros worth of diesel fuel and filling the trucks’ tanks with water to hide their actions.
The case came before the Innsbruck Regional Court. Nine truck drivers, from Romania and Hungary, are on trial for embezzling over half a million euros in diesel, which they allegedly replaced with water to avoid being caught.
According to the charges, the nine drivers allegedly stole fuel from their employer for several years. The discovery was made on the basis of video recordings that captured drivers transferring diesel into private vehicles or containers, according to kosmo.
In court, the defendants cited financial hardship as the reason for their actions.
A Romanian driver said that “my family’s financial situation was difficult”and several of the accused stated that the salaries obtained in their countries of origin did not exceed 500 euros.
To hide the thefts, the drivers refilled the tanks with water after emptying them of diesel. In their defence, the defendants claimed that their superiors had allowed them to fill their tanks at the company’s expense for the return journey.
They also disputed the amounts of fuel attributed to each, particularly the claim that 90,000 liters had been embezzled.
According to the defense lawyer, fuel consumption can vary significantly depending on operating conditions and requested an expert opinion, but the court rejected this request.
Inconsistencies were also raised in the documentation of the case: a tank of 1,200 liters could not have contained 1,260 liters, contrary to the statements of the investigators.
The damaged company apparently relied on the trust of drivers and did not check fuel receipts.
The court handed down suspended prison sentences of up to nine months and, in one case, a fine.
In addition, the defendants must repay damages of up to 117,000 euros per person. The verdict is not yet final.
