Austrian prosecutors to charge former friend of Kampusch kidnapper with aiding his escape

Former friend of Kampusch kidnapper faces charges

VIENNA — Prosecutors say they will charge a former friend of a notorious Austrian kidnapper with aiding his escape in the hours after his victim fled.

Natascha Kampusch was snatched on her way to school in 1998 and held until she got away in August 2006, aged 18. Her abductor, Wolfgang Priklopil, committed suicide within hours.

Gerhard Jarosch, spokesman for the Vienna public prosecutor’s office, says Ernst H. will have to defend himself in court for driving Priklopil around after Kampusch fled. Ernst H. initially told authorities Priklopil had not confessed to the kidnapping when they met that day but later acknowledged that he had.

Jarosch on Tuesday could not say when Ernst H. would be charged. He faces up to two years in prison or a monetary fine.

Authorities maintain that Priklopil had no help carrying out his crime.