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Madeleine Amstutz (41), Mayor of Sigriswil BE, had submitted expense bills that were too high for years. She even billed the community for attending funerals. Now it turns out that the SVP policy was even more daring: if you compare the expense sheets with public sources, you will see that it has claimed expenses for events in which it could not have participated.
According to the expense report, Amstutz was at the “Panorama Military Discharge Dinner” in Aeschlen BE on November 30, 2017, as she wrote, from 12 noon to 1:15 pm. She charged 50 francs for it. The problem with this: at the time, she was at the Grand Council in Bern. The canton’s parliament paused for lunch from 12 noon to 1.30 p.m. The journey from Bern’s Old Town to Aeschlen takes about 40 minutes, or one hour and 20 minutes round trip.
Since, according to the Council minutes, Amstutz took part in the last vote at 11:45, it was impossible for him to have dinner in Aeschlen at 12 noon. The way back would also be very short, because at 2:02 pm Amstutz took his seat in the Grand Council Chamber for the first vote of the afternoon.
At the same time in Sigriswil and Bern
An unfortunate individual case, an oversight? Not! This is shown on March 18, 2018. According to the expense sheet, Amstutz was at Sigriswil School from 8.45 am to 10 am for an appointment called “BA * Political Information Teacher”. This has been shown to be incorrect. Because at 9:03 am Amstutz hit the No button on her desk at the Grand Council.
Was there an error in the minutes of the Council in the two cases mentioned? Hardly, because the list of misconduct is much longer. Anyone comparing the dates on the expense sheets and Grand Council documents can only come to the conclusion that the former senior vice president politician handled expenses extremely carelessly and knowingly agreed to receive unwarranted money.
None of this has consequences
Well, Sigriswil’s council found out about her, didn’t they? Nothing! With the active support of Governor Marc Fritschi (FDP), Amstutz leaves the field as the winner. The Governor of Thun, responsible for Sigriswil, issued him a clean health certificate due to procedural errors. The fact that the municipality rechecked the expenditure reports afterwards was inadmissible. Amstutz does not have to reimburse expenses that are said to have been wrongly received in the years 2015 to 2018.
The expense gentleman is fine. Those who wanted transparency, the Sigriswil municipal council and the appointed business audit commission, are standing there with their pants cut off. In communicating his decision, Fritschi also gave the impression that Amstutz did not owe money to the municipality of Sigriswil, but exactly the other way around. Amstutz did not collect travel expenses of 4,000 francs, which more than offset the debt of 3,244.30 francs reported by the community.
“That hurts us”
Alone: Fritschi’s numbers just weren’t correct, Sigriswil’s chairman of the board, Beat Oppliger, clearly says. For one thing, the actual amount by which Amstutz misled the municipality from the municipal council’s point of view is significantly higher. And: “Travel expenses have already been discounted.” In total, it would have been around 7,300 francs. “Ms. Amstutz owes the community the 3,300 francs for the years 2015 to 2018. The fact that the governor operates with incorrect figures hurts us,” said Oppliger.
However, the decision will no longer be made, Oppliger emphasizes. “The whole thing has already cost taxpayers enough money.” However, looking back, he sticks to his approach. “We reopened the case because they sent anonymous letters to us and to the media. There was great public interest in investigating Ms. Amstutz’s expenses. “
However: Sigriswil’s Audit Commission is examining a criminal complaint against Madeleine Amstutz, as confirmed to VIEW by President Hansruedi Tschanz. This is because Amstutz is said to have invoiced the expenses twice: once in Sigriswil and once in the Thun development area.
Amstutz goes on the offensive
Madeleine Amstutz could not be reached for BLICK: Since she is currently back in the Great Council debate, she is unable to answer any more questions. On Wednesday, however, she sent out a statement complaining about the publication of her expenses and went on the offensive: City president Opplinger had presented significantly higher expenses, in part for the same occasions.
Everyone can get an idea if this is so: the municipal administration has the expenditure reports of the municipal councilors.
