Original subtitles

THE SO-CALLED "IBIZA GATE" SCANDAL HAS RESULTED IN 2019.

TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT. AUSTRIAN FREEDOM PARTY LEADER

AND VICE-CHANCELLOR HEINZ-CHRISTIAN STRACHE WAS FORCED TO RESIGN

AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE SECRETLY FILMED VIDEO

WITH HIS QUESTIONABLE REMARKS. THIS STORY IS ABOUT THAT SCANDAL.

THE SERIES IS BASED ON THE TESTIMONY OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CASE.

CERTAIN EVENTS AND CHARACTERS ARE FICTIONAL.

HEINZ-CHRISTIAN STRACHE DENIES THAT HE WAS TRANSPORTING

BAGS FULL OF MONEY, IN HIS CAR.

AND THAT HE WAS ALSO LAUNDERING MONEY BY THE PARTY.

Do you know the feeling?

It's like driving through a tunnel,

But it's too late to turn back.

There's no turning back.

All that remains is to move forward.

You wait for the light ahead,

but there isn't.

Only darkness.

Turn off and put away your cell phones.

Backpack!

I have to look you over.

Here you go.

This is an excerpt.

May I?

Watch.

Once she's in charge of the paper...

- Strache? - As soon as that happens,

we'll have to have a frank conversation.

We'll have to sit down together.

And tell them how we do things around here.

One, one, one. Those three or four...

The three or four people need a push.

Those three or four people need to be drained.

Is there anything on the other computers are there any on the other computers?

What is it?

Did you take this picture?

A man from Strache's entourage.

That injustice, that is happening in Austria today.

it's not God's will.

It's not carved in stone.

No people on planet Earth

will not become a minority in their own homeland.

Those who are not ready to integrate,

will have to leave our country.

A new era is coming.

I can feel it.

I want to go with you.

to enter this new era.

Long live our homeland!

Good luck!

Stop.

I'm out of cigarettes.

Gladly.

Weren't there any blue ones?

Sorry, we're out.

I see.

This is our Carinthia, right?

Strache! Strache! Strache!

Let's all give a big round of applause to our regional chairman,

the leader of the Austrian Freedom Party,

our first candidate

Heinz-Christian Strache!

It's the same thing every time.

IBIZA-GATE

VENNA BLOOD

SOMEWHERE IN ROMANIA

If anyone knew, what we were planning,

they would have said, "You're out of your mind."

That never works.

But it did work.

It all started with pictures.

The only problem is, is that the pictures alone...

don't prove anything.

A bag of money could belong to anybody.

That's no way to tie Strache.

Not like that.

VENA

That can make you dizzy. Last year it was four.

The important thing is, is to keep the management happy, right?

Next year, a square meter will cost five.

Then the agency will be pissed, that it sold for 4.6.

I'm gonna cry.

Thank you, Mr. Mirfahrai.

I'm listening.

Is that Mr. Mirfahrai?

I'm listening.

I believe you remember me.

We met at Procacci.

I remember, yes.

Do you know what it's about?

No, to be honest, I don't.

But do you know what industry I work in?

You're in charge of security, right? Something like that.

Yes, that's right.

Right now, we're providing services to one client,

large company

with a billion-dollar turnover in the international market.

Let's say we're talking about information gathering.

And it's important for us to understand what kind of information

was legally obtained

and can be used in court,

And which one is not.

So we need legal expertise,

and that's where you come in.

What exactly are we talking about?

I'll tell you, as soon as you and I agree.

- Tomorrow we're discussing strategy. - Okay.

I have some... free time tomorrow afternoon.

Where's the meeting?

- Rosenheim. - Germany?

Yes, I'm already there. If you want,

you're welcome to come down here with one of my employees,

he's coming tomorrow.

Listen. I have meetings all week.

I can't just pick up and leave Vienna.

It's too sudden.

Okay.

Well, maybe you can recommend a more spontaneous colleague?

I can't.

Please connect me to Mr. Haas.

Mirfahrai?

They said 15 minutes past 9:00.

I had to stay late.

How long have you been working with Herr Haas?

Yes, for a long time.

Do you have any idea what we're going to be doing there?

We'll find out on the spot.

That's the new Six, isn't it?

That's not bad.

Quite comfortable.

I have a Porsche.

We shouldn't be talking.

My first impression:

city attorney. With too big a salary.

And less than four weeks After they screwed us over,

these two assholes are starting their own business.

ROSENHEIM And what are they offering?

Design and manufacture of machinery

for bottling beverages and liquid food products

In plastic and glass bottles.

- Are they kidding me? - That's pretty clear,

business and trade secret theft.

Right. Four weeks!

No sow would create in four weeks.

a whole new line of products. To prove it,

we'll need their technical plans.

Okay, how do we get them? Theoretically it's easy.

In three stages.

The first stage is preparation.

We're building a company,

that will sell units for bottling beverages overseas.

The second step is initiation.

We are establishing a business relationship.

with the firm of your former employees.

And the third step... the implementation of the plan.

Which is we offer them a deal,

that they provide us the appropriate documents.

Do you have any experience with patent law?

Let me put it this way: Dr. Mirfahrai has

there's this great... law firm in Vienna,

that has a lot of connections.

Basically, there's a lawyer out there for any situation in life.

And who's going to pull this off?

We've got a supervisor handling everything.

But of course we have employees,

who will take over to set up the business relationships.

Covert Investigations,

The creation of legends and the like.

Okay. Sounds like a plan.

If we didn't have something to eat--

it's likely that each of us would have gone our separate ways.

and the meeting wouldn't have happened.

It's better to take a moment and talk it over.

Honestly, from a legal standpoint.

it's not as simple as you and Haas are imagining it to be.

Making a sham deal just for the sake of,

in order to get a trade secret, is considered fraud.

And it's unlikely that these documents

can be used in court.

What's so funny?

You really do believe,

that you were hired to consult?

Why else?

You met Haas in Procacci, didn't you?

Let me guess. He wasn't exactly sober.

Haas would have hired any lawyer,

really any lawyer.

Because Bergermann needs a lawyer.

We don't.

Then what's all this about?

Are you trying to prove what a tough guy you are?

I'm gonna shit my pants.

Oh, thank you!

Thank you. Can I have a spoon?

Sure.

- Did you sprinkle truffle on it? - Yes.

Okay.

You know who they call for help when things go wrong.

and need to launder money?

Me.

And I'm pulling people out of this hole.

You've never in your life ever prosecuted a criminal case in your life.

What makes you think that?

RAMIN MIRFAHRAI

Study in Vienna, then an internship with Lansky,

then doctorate, dissertation topic.

"The application of the law of public procurement

in models of public-private partnerships.

2009 opening of the practice,

The focus is on construction law,

Real estate rights, public procurement rights.

You've never seen the inside of a prison.

You're sitting at the table.

and you're processing the contracts that other people sign.

That's it.

You know how to google. Congratulations.

Father, Mahan Mirfahrai,

fled Iran for Austria in 1979.

Mother, born Austrian,

older sister, the pretty one.

Did you find that on Google, too?

I don't spend four hours in the car with a human being,

that I didn't check out beforehand.

Just because you know where I went to school

and my father's name doesn't mean that you know everything about me.

You have absolutely no idea,

what I really do.

I have explosives in my safe,

compared to this. your Bergermann case is bullshit.

Yeah. It's hardly all that explosive,

since you spend all day sitting around the office all day.

Explosive enough,

to discredit a prominent politician.

Who?

- Just like that. - Austria?

Of course Austria. Who?

- The chancellor? - Forget it.

The federal president? No, one of the blues.

- How about a little louder? - One of the blues.

Who's one of the blues? Strache?

- Strache. Of course. - No, no.

What do you have against Strache?

- A skiing photo? - No.

- Why aren't you releasing them? - There are no photos of skiing.

Stop it already.

Interesting,

what are you guys so excited about all of a sudden?

I don't own the material.

It was compiled by a close colleague of Strache's.

If this gets out, he'll lose his job.

His life. Do you understand?

Thank you.

Let me put it down.

Thanks, Daddy, but I'm gonna burst.

You'll starve tomorrow,

not when you're here.

Let me take care of you.

Then put down two spoons.

Mehdi said,

That he doesn't have any contracts yet.

You still haven't sent them?

It's a better system.

Dad, you say that. about every system.

Every system is the best, and prices are going up everywhere.

So it doesn't matter if I send them out tomorrow.

or next week.

I wouldn't buy any more apartments.

We should wait for the election.

Strache will win by a margin

30% in Vienna, you'll see.

In two years, he's going to be our next Federal Chancellor.

Then it won't matter how many apartments we have.

He'll throw us all out on the street.

What a load of crap.

Leave me alone. Bullshit?

That's what they all say.

And then the revolution happens.

And you have to leave the country.

I am Austrian.

Where's he gonna send me?

The desert.

Is everything okay?

You're so serious. Are you planning a revolution too?

No.

I'll be satisfied, if things stay the way they are.

Listen.

If you knew that you could do the right thing,

But it would cause a hell of a lot of trouble,

would you do it anyway?

Did my brother decide to get married?

I think anything that doesn't involve with the sale of the apartments.

or enriching people,

who are already rich.

can only do them good.

For a job like this.

You need the right cover story.

Ours was a customer from Belarus, "White Vodka."

The most famous export product.

It just needed a bottling system.

We were a subsidiary company our branch was located in Moscow,

sanctions made things a little more complicated.

Nobody's asking that,

And that makes it difficult to litigate.

Clever, very clever.

That's clever, I admit.

After all, they signed everything,

including the contracts of sale.

with all the technical features of the bottling systems.

The lawyer helped us a lot.

I admit I underestimated him.

Cheers!

Are you two best friends now?

Be careful, this one's even worse.

Did he ever tell you how, being undercover,

failed to arrest the doping mafia? No?

It doesn't matter. He's a good Austrian.

Dealing with foreigners

will be over soon anyway, if we take things into our own hands here.

Then law and order will finally prevail again.

There you are, good foreigner,

you drink alcohol.

Hey, two more glasses.

I have to go, thank you, thank you.

What's the matter with him?

Forget it. Everybody's a jerk.

Thank you. Haas pays well,

Plus, they're all drunk.

26% of all Austrians are drunkards?

Is that why they choose them?

People often tell the truth, when they're drunk.

That's what scares me.

What's going on here? We're doing all right, aren't we?

Maybe that's the reason.

We're doing too well.

I've got better booze in my office.

Here we go.

Thank you.

Fuck the Freedom Party!

It's amazing that these real estate agencies real estate agencies don't get audited.

These blues do shit like that,

when they're at the helm.

They're more corrupt than anyone else.

You seem to have something against Strache.

- Do something. - I did.

I even went to the police.

- You went to the police? - The Federal Bureau.

- It's all official. - Wow.

- Yeah. - What did they say?

Come on, what did they say?

What?

What did they say?

If I show you,

will it stay between us? - Yes.

I'm serious.

What do you have against Strache?

Who made them?

Strache's driver.

What for?

It's complicated in there.

I'm listening.

I met him through people I know.

2011.

After work, at the bar.

At one point he asks, if I'm a lawyer.

You wouldn't happen to be a lawyer, would you?

Yes. Mirfahrai.

And then he says, that he needs counseling.

- I have a question. - And I say to him, "Look at me.

Look at my name. I don't think so,

that I fit into your shenanigans."

Because I'm Strache's driver?

I don't think you're going to take someone from the Social Democratic Party.

We're not all like that.

I'm definitely not like that.

I have nothing against foreigners.

My girlfriend is Portuguese.

I helped him with something:

investment assignments, then rented out some real estate,

we met again and again.

He likes to tell stories.

Especially about Strach.

There were some girls sitting there,

celebrating getting their diplomas.

Strache winked at them,

said hello, and so on.

The ladies didn't like it.

Naturally.

But he didn't leave,

I had to kick the girls out.

There's a pharmacy around the corner.

Belongs to the blues.

I don't know how many times I've been there,

I used to go there to get pills for Strache.

It's near you, isn't it?

I drove 30 kilometers that way.

and 30 kilometers back.

just to pay Strache's fucking bill.

Sunday night.

And no one will thank me for it.

You have a new message from Strache.

- Do you want me to read it to you? - Yes, read it.

Where are you? We have company tonight.

I'm gonna need some beef for the Schober roast.

At least a kilo.

Gotta make it to three.

Can you make it?

But he still didn't quit.

He's making good money. I think deep down.

he likes to drive the boss around.

He feels important.

The only problem

was the stupid receipts.

He was supposed to receive from the party.

reimbursement for the purchases that he made for Strache.

But nothing came out.

The accounting department doesn't take over.

the cost of renting skis and the beef tenderloin.

You don't even have to try.

But he was skiing.

So he should have to get a duplicate receipt.

But that, of course, is illegal.

So he started collecting everything,

just to be on the safe side.

I keep everything. All that shit.

And if they kick me,

I'm gonna punk this party, I assure you.

And then they really kicked it.

The party moved him to the office.

And to top it all off.

he also got sick.

But the treatment worked.

What really hit him was,

that the party wanted to get rid of him.

He was supposed to be doing a short-term job,

but he didn't get paid overtime he didn't get paid either.

I'm done with them.

See what you can do about it.

In management, I met with some real superstars.

on the fight against crime.

Impressive. One with a master's degree.

"Jacuzzi Repair."

He messed up the party's life.

Is there any written evidence?

TEXT MESSAGE?

Evidence that Strache personally ordered his client

To provide other duplicates?

No.

How so?

What if your client was collecting the money himself,

like in a basket?

For years?

And no one has noticed that?

That's tens of thousands of euros.

I showed you some of the material and I said,

that my client was willing to testify.

But he needs your support.

I asked what you could do for him.

At the end of the day, he's jeopardizing his entire existence.

Do you have a job for him? Or a witness protection program?

Anything at all?

As a leniency measure. we could offer him

a fixed fee for information in the amount of 500 euros.

That was absurd.

I really thought they were joking.

I told them, that it wouldn't do him any good.

I'm talking about the house in Upper Austria.

or somewhere else. Something where he can

to start all over again under an assumed name.

On financial security

I'll talk to the media.

But when the time comes, my client will need police protection.

You will lose a key witness,

if you don't offer him anything.

As long as we don't know who your client is,

we can't offer him anything. I'm sorry.

But don't go to the press.

They might give you money, but then they'll tear you apart.

That's the way it is.

What did they say about the pictures?

That without a statement they are worthless.

Anyone could have put a bag in the car.

When did the driver make them?

2013.

Where did the money come from?

I have no idea.

What would you do with them?

Until the driver doesn't testify, nothing.

He would have testified, but if no one would help him,

why would he do that?

He needs some kind of protection.

If he makes them public,

he'll lose everything. - How much?

I don't know. Just the legal fees alone.

would cost in the seven figures.

Then you need something,

that speaks for itself.

For example, the compromising photographs of Strache.

Video or audio recording.

Is it expensive?

- What? Video? - Yeah, yeah.

How much does it cost to make a video?

30,000.

For starters.

- Okay. - What's "good"?

Let's do it. Let's make a video.

- What do you mean "we"? Like you and me? - Yeah.

Who's gonna pay the 30 grand? You?

- Я. - Yes.

- It's worth it. - It is.

- Where are you going? - Home.

I'll let you know.

I will.

Hello, Bastian. You're here.

Date, time, geolocation.

So the photo was taken

on June 28, 2013.

At Lake Wörthersee.

The next one is in three days,

July 1, 2013, in downtown Vienna. And the last one is.

January 9, 2014.

At the Rathausplatz in Vienna.

Next to the regional office Freedom Party.

From the summer of 2013 to early '14.

In September, there was an election for the National Council.

Before an election, the money usually adds up.

It came in from somewhere.

Great.

Herr Wagner?

My name is Frederick Obermaier,

I work for the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.

We are conducting preliminary investigation

concerning Heinz-Christian Strache.

Strache? What's the matter?

It's about corruption cases.

2013 or 2014,

which could have involved Freedom Party or Strache himself.

- The Buwog Agency case? - No, no,

It's not about the old government.

It's about the period of opposition,

2013 or 2014.

We've written a lot about Strach.

And as for corruption...

Nothing comes to mind.

Okay, thank you.

Yes, exactly at the time of the opposition.

2013 or 2014.

Yes, then take a look at

at the Unterberger case.

Unterberger?

He ran for the National Council In 2013.

He was ninth on the list,

hopeless position.

But then, after the election, six people come in, and, oh, miracle!

Three walk away from their mandate,

And a spot appears for Unterberger.

Which city's list was it?

Vienna.

Unterberger.

My name is Frederick Obermaier,

I work for the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

In 2013 you resigned from the National Council.

May I ask why?

I don't want to talk about it.

Hello. My name is Frederick Obermaier,

I work for the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Hello. I hope you're not dist...

Hello. I'm from the newspaper...

Thank you for making time for me.

In 2013, you resigned from the National Council,

Is that correct? - Yes, that's correct.

May I ask why?

That's what the party leadership wanted.

Why did the leadership want you want you to give up your mandate?

Yeah, I didn't want to get on the list.

I was comfortable working in the Parliament of the land.

So I wasn't too upset.

That I didn't get that spot.

But that's common now.

High-ranking people always have a desire to...

to put someone of their own in office.

Thank you, have a good day.

Hey, Bastian, you should take a look at this.

Look: Markus Unterberger is running for the National Council.

in 2013, and he doesn't have any political experience at all.

The only thing he has is.

is his business connections and information about Ukraine.

Unterberger ranks ninth on Vienna's list.

If he gets in. six other party members are on it,

Unterberger won't get anything. But all of a sudden.

three are out of the race.

One even openly confessed,

that she was forced to withdraw circumstances.

Unterberger, who until then no one knew before,

Moves to the National Council.

And most importantly... Here.

At the end of 2016.

A businessman from Lower Austria

sued the Austrian Freedom Party of Austria.

to the regional court for civil cases.

He asked for damages in the amount of two million euros,

claiming that he had been verbally he had been verbally assured that,

that for his lobbying of the candidate. he would receive a retainer.

However, the mandate of the National Council never paid him.

Two million! No way!

- Yeah. That's what it says on the application. - И?

The lawsuit was dismissed.

For lack of evidence.

Damn.

- Are you okay? - No.

- Damn ankle again. - Come on.

Have a cigarette.

Give me a kiss.

Feel better.

- Oh, shit. - What?

My ankle.

When are you gonna get it over with?

I can't stop.

I'm in debt.

You want me to work as a cashier?

I told you: if you need anything,

you'll get it.

And learn German already.

Learn German.

Why do you even like me?

Because you're the only one who puts up with me.

- I'm listening. - We should start a new firm.

What?

I filed for bankruptcy.

They took me on.

You got to be more careful.

I'm on my way back to Vienna right now. I'm on my way to see my tax advisor.

We'll open something new. In Munich.

You're going to be the manager and owner. What do you say?

What about my money?

You'll get your money, as soon as we open a new firm.

Bergermann too, of course, we'll bring him along, of course.

You owe me two more payments from Bergermann.

I can't give you I can't give you anything right now.

I'm gonna light up, you know?

You'll get your money.

I ain't gettin' shit.

What did you do with all of Bergermann's dough?

He owes me one too.

But first the money has to go into an account which is not yet available due to bankruptcy.

We just need a new firm.

A new firm? So you can fuck it up again?

I want my money. Now. Okay?

I'll call you when I'm in Vienna. We'll talk then.

I can't get a good signal here.

Dude, no, wait, wait!

Goddamn it!

What happened?

Nothing.

Would you like some coffee?

- Will you bring it to bed? - Yeah.

I told him to make an appointment.

What's up? Shall we go get something to eat?

We need to discuss how to proceed now.

- Act? - I mean the video.

- Not today. - Then when?

I have no idea. Forget it.

- We were drunk. - Don't talk, just do it!

That's not my stuff. I didn't put it together.

I have a client, that I consulted with.

What to do about it is up to him.

First you say, that Strache is dangerous,

and now you don't want to do anything.

Even though you could,

Considering the trump card you're holding.

You're a cowardly pig.

Hello.

Good afternoon.

My name is Bastian Obermaier.

Frederick Obermaier.

We work for the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

We'd like to talk to you about Markus Unterberger.

Why?

Two years ago you sued.

against the Austrian Freedom Party and asked for two million.

We're here because we think ...there's something to tell you.

And we'd love to hear from you.

How did you meet with Markus Unterberger?

He talked to me.

I had to make contact.

with the Freedom Party.

Before that, he had made inquiries... with the Austrian People's Party.

and the Stronach team,

But they sent him away.

And what did he want from the Freedom Party?

He wanted to join the National Council.

There must be a lot of people who want to join the National Council.

But not many have.

ten million euros, to pay for it.

Ten million?

Who would give that kind of money for a seat on the National Council?

I don't want to talk about it.

Is it true that Herr Unterberger

had Ukrainian business partners?

The money came from Ukraine, yes.

I won't say anything else.

Why ten million for a backbencher?

You know how long it takes,

for the sunlight to reach us?

Eight minutes.

If the sun were to explode,

we wouldn't even notice it.

We would have kept looking up at the sky

and think, "Oh, how beautiful the sun is shining the sun is shining beautifully today, all is well.

Okay, that's good, but why ten million?

Why not?

Imagine you're from the Ukraine.

and you have a lot of money, but you don't know a damn thing

in Austrian politics. What do you think,

that it's the same there as it is in your home country?

What is ten million?

They were expecting, that they could get through Unterberger.

influence the whole party in parliament.

That they would have access to information,

Which, in turn, will lead to new deals. It's as simple as that.

And you were supposed to get two million euros?

Two million.

Which I didn't get.

Two million was still owed to the lawyer,

who arranged the whole thing,

And four to the parties.

That's eight.

There's two more missing.

You're the smart one.

That's why you're here.

That's not why you came here, to talk about Unterberger.

Two million -- Strache?

That's what you said.

Even if.

He'll still deny everything.

is not an official matter,

Because nothing affects the processes,

leading to the enactment of legislation.

The investigation was closed.

Europe is a fortress!

Close the borders!

We the people! We the people!

We take to the streets for our values,

our homeland, our freedom and our traditions!

Motherland, freedom, traditions!

The multicultural endpoint!

How do you talk to me, animal?

How do you talk to me?

This is my country, whore!

This isn't going to work.

And I don't want it to work out.

Homeland, freedom, tradition!

The multicultural endpoint!

I was born here. And I'm gonna stay here.

You won't.

The Freedom Party will throw us all out.

We the people!

We the people!

We the people!

Rookies.

In three or four years.

We will be foreigners.

I thought I'd never I thought I'd never see that lawyer again,

but the situation kept him on his toes.

Strache was all over the place.

You can't just go in there and hide from him.

Knowing what you knew,

...the lawyer could no longer continue... to continue his machinations.

YEAR OF NUMEROUS ELECTIONS

Upper Austria voted,

and it looks like we're in for a political earthquake today. a political earthquake today.

According to the current extrapolation, the votes for the Freedom Party are doubling,

and it now has 31.5 percent.

Looks like no one will not go unnoticed.

Heinz-Christian! Heinz-Christian! Heinz-Christian! Heinz Christian!

The clear winner in the Woyzberg County

is the Austrian Freedom Party with...

The winner was the Freedom Party with a margin of 11.55%.

The Austrian Freedom Party was able to almost double

number of their votes.

The leading candidate of the Freedom Party is... Heinz Strache!

The first extrapolation is ready.

It will give us clearer information.

According to the first prediction,

The Social Democratic Party has 39.5 percent of the vote.

Minus 4.9 percentage points.

Bad.

According to the first prediction,

The Austrian Freedom Party has gained 30.9 percent.

Plus 5.1 percentage points.

It was clear that this would be the case.

I expected more votes.

According to the polls, they're already at 34%.

The important thing is that the red and green have enough.

Red and green!

You'll see, it won't be long now.

Strache is the devil.

He seduces people.

He's going to keep it up,

until he becomes chancellor. God forbid.

Germany must finally close its borders.

You are letting too many people in.

That's me.

Did you see the first extrapolation?

Yes. Above 30 percent.

Let's make a video.

No, no, no, I'm serious this time. Absolutely.

We're gonna pull this off, okay?

Finally.