Roland Weißmann, the former director-general of Austrian public broadcaster ORF, has filed criminal charges against two individuals following allegations of misconduct. The move comes after Weißmann resigned from his post earlier this month amid scrutiny over his behavior toward a colleague.
The complaint was lodged with the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office, according to a spokesperson for the office, Nina Bussek. Details regarding the nature of the allegations and the identities of those accused have not been released, as an initial investigation is underway. Weißmann’s attorney, Norbert Wess, declined to comment on the specifics of the case.
The allegations surfaced when an ORF employee contacted the broadcaster’s board of directors with claims of inappropriate conduct by Weißmann. According to reports, the employee alleged that Weißmann pressured her into pursuing a relationship beyond a professional one, allegedly using explicit messages. Weißmann has denied the accusations, stating through his lawyer that any relationship was consensual and that he did not exert any undue influence.
Weißmann stepped down from his position nearly two weeks ago as the allegations came to light. The case highlights the increasing scrutiny faced by public figures regarding workplace conduct and the handling of misconduct claims.
