On Tuesday, a 54-year-old man from Salzburg was sentenced to two years of probation after withdrawing almost €500,000 from his mother’s account while serving as her legally appointed representative. The Salzburg Regional Court found the man guilty of stealing money, as he used the funds for personal expenses, including vacations and other private purposes.

The case, as reported by the Salzburger Nachrichten, revealed that between February 2023 and April 2024, the man withdrew €481,500 from his late mother’s account without judicial approval, which was required for his role as her legal guardian. Some of the money was even handed over to his brother for personal use.

During the trial, the man admitted to the withdrawals but denied feeling guilty, claiming his mother had agreed to the arrangement before her death. According to him, she wanted both him and his brother to enjoy the funds. He further argued that, as her heirs, the money would have eventually been theirs.

However, the court found evidence of deliberate abuse of his position. The presiding judge, as quoted by Salzburger Nachrichten, noted that the man had previously consulted the court regarding such withdrawals but later stopped doing so. This, according to the judge, showed a clear awareness that he was misusing the funds for personal benefit without permission.

The verdict remains open to appeal.