The Austrian magnate René Benko was arrested this morning, Thursday, January 23, at his residence in Innsbruck, on charges of corruption and attempted concealment of assets. The operation, coordinated by the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office in Vienna, was initiated to prevent the risk of evidence tampering and the recurrence of the offenses under investigation. Benko, founder of the Signa group and an influential figure in the real estate sector, is at the center of several investigations that also involve Trentino-Alto Adige and pertain to alleged irregularities related to public contracts.
Authorities have accused Benko of manipulating the system to his advantage with the support of political allies, falsifying documents, and attempting to hide assets to evade creditors. It has come to light that he is allegedly the true beneficiary of the Laura Private Foundation, which was used to conceal part of his fortune. Additionally, the entrepreneur is under investigation for the embezzlement of over one million euros intended for a luxury hotel during the pandemic. Despite the serious allegations, the defense attorney stated that the charges are unfounded and announced plans to seek the release of his client.
