Why is a 300kg inmate causing outrage in Austria?

A 29-year-old inmate weighing nearly 300kg is at the center of controversy in Austria due to the high costs of maintaining him in prison. The daily expenses amount to almost 1,800 euros, totaling 55,000 euros monthly, far above average. Drug trafficking allegations were made, but the defense lawyer argues that the inmate could not have committed the crimes due to his physical condition. The situation has sparked political reactions and criticism of the government, which is facing challenges in the public healthcare system.
The man was detained at Josefstadt Penitentiary in Vienna after police found kilos of marijuana, two kilos of cocaine, two kilos of amphetamines, and over 2,000 ecstasy pills in the inmate’s apartment. Despite the seizure, defense attorney Philipp Wolm claims that the client could not have committed such serious crimes due to his weight. ‘Due to his health condition, my client is not capable of committing such grave crimes,’ he stated.
Two other suspects were also arrested but deny involvement in the case. Their defense lawyer, Christian Werner, told Krone newspaper: ‘Even though they were at the accused’s apartment several times, they have absolutely nothing to do with the case.’ The penitentiary, however, faces logistical challenges in maintaining the inmate. The high weight damaged the bed structure in Josefstadt, which had to be welded to support the nearly 300 kilos of the inmate. He was also transferred to Korneuburg Prison in Lower Austria by court order. The previous accommodation in a secluded wing of Krems University Hospital was deemed too expensive.
The inmate’s transportation also incurs additional costs. Each trip in an adapted vehicle costs around 5,000 euros (approximately $32,000), leading to interrogations via video conference. Maintaining the inmate in good condition requires around-the-clock medical and nursing care provided by professionals from a third-party company. This raises the monthly costs to approximately 55,000 euros (about $350,000), ten times more than the average expenditure on a single incarcerated individual in Austria.
The high expenses with a single inmate occur amidst criticism of the Austrian healthcare system, which is experiencing a shortage of doctors, professionals emigrating overseas, and surgeries being postponed. The population reportedly has to wait months for medical appointments unless opting for private care. The case has prompted political responses, with FPÖ party security spokesperson Christian Lausch criticizing the government for its handling of taxpayers’ money. ‘This is how the government is dealing with taxpayers’ money. Simply insane. They are making huge cuts in the public health sector,’ he said.
Within the prison itself, guards question why the man was not transferred to a nursing home, which could potentially reduce costs. They also suggest that the inmate likely would not be fit to serve a sentence in a closed regime even if convicted.