Section 3 of the Ordinance (Federal Law Gazette II No. 113/2020) now states as follows:

„Periods pursuant to Section 88 para 1, Section 92 para 1, Section 106 para 3 and 5 last sentence, Section 194 para 2, Section 195 para 2, Section 213 para 2, Section 276a, Section 284 para 1, Section 285 para 1 and 4, Section 294 para 1 and 2, Section 357 para 2, Section 408 para 1, Section 409 para 1, Section 427 para 3, Section 430 para 5, Section 466 para 1 and 2, Section 467 para 1 and 5, Section 478 para 1 and Section 491 para 6 Austrian Code of Criminal Procedure (“CCP”) and other time limits set by the Public Prosecutor's Office or the court shall be suspended until the end of April 30, 2020 and shall begin to run anew on May 1, 2020, whereby this suspension, with the exception of the time limit referred to in Section 276a CCP, shall not apply to time limits in proceedings in which the defendant is held in custody".

As a response to the frequently pointed out gaps in the previous regulation, the time limits were now considerably extended.

As a result, the following time limits are now suspended until the end of April 30, 2020:

Preliminary investigations

• the period for lodging a complaint (Section 88 para 1 CCP),
• the period for granting an authorization to prosecute (Section 92 para 1 CCP),
• the period for raising an objection because of infringement of rights (Section 106 para 3 CCP) and the period for for the counter-statement on the statements provided by the Public Prosecutor's Office or the criminal investigation authority (Section 106 para 5 last sentence CCP),
• the period for the request of an explanation regarding the discontinuation of investigation proceedings (Section 194 para 2 CCP),
• the period for an appeal for continuation of investigation proceedings (Section 195 para 2 CCP),

Main proceedings

• the period for raising an objection against the indictment (Section 213 para 2 CCP),
• the period in which main hearings that have already started must be continued (Section 276a CCP),

Appeal proceedings

• the period for registering an appeal for nullity (Section 284 para 1 CCP) and the period for the elaboration of the grounds (Section 285 para 1 CCP),
• the period for the submission of a counter-statement on the appeal for nullity (Section 285 para 4 CCP),
• the period for registering an appeal (Section 294 para 1 CCP) and the period for the elaboration of the grounds (Section 294 para 2 CCP),
• the period for lodging an appeal against a judgment in absentia (Section 427 para 3 CCP),
• the period for the complaint against the decision for a hearing in absentia in proceedings in connection with Section 21 para 1 Austrian Criminal Code ("CC") (Section 430 para 5 CCP),
• the period for filing an appeal against a judgment of the District court (Section 466 para 1 and 2 CCP) and the period for the elaboration of the grounds (Section 467 para 1 CCP),
• the period for the counter-statement on the appeal regarding a judgement of the District court (Section 467 para 5 CCP),
• the period for the objection against judgments in absentia issued by a District court (Section 478 para 1 CCP),
• the period for the objection against a penal order in summary proceedings (Section 491 para 6 CCP),

Other time limits

• the period for for the opposing statement on the motion for reconsideration of criminal proceedings (Section 357 para 2 CCP),
• the period for for the deposit of items, which are subject to forfeiture, extended forfeiture, confiscation or seizure (Section 408 para 1 CCP),
• the period for the payment of a fine (Section 409 para 1 CCP),
• and other time limits set by the Public Prosecutor's Office or the court.

If you have any questions regarding criminal law issues in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, our attorneys at wkk law Dr Norbert Wess (n.wess@wkklaw.at), Mag Markus Machan (m.machan@wkklaw.at) and Dr Vanessa McAllister (v.mcallister@wkklaw.at) will be pleased to provide you with legal expertise at any time.