New charges against René Benko for alleged fraud worth millions

Five million euros through a false guarantee

At the core of the fraud allegation is an untruthful guarantee statement. Benko is supposed to be the authorized representative of the Haselsteiner Family Private Foundation managed to transfer around 3.3 million euros to Signa Holding GmbH. At the same time, he is said to have prevented the foundation from demanding a further 1.7 million euros back.

In the guarantee letter, Benko is said to have promised to repay a total of around five million euros by June 30, 2024 at the latest – a promise that was never fulfilled. The Haselsteiner Family Private Foundation According to the indictment, the entire amount was damaged. In return, Signa Holding GmbH and another company are said to have been unlawfully enriched. With this charge, the WKStA concludes the investigation into the “fraud through untruthful guarantee” case.

Hunting rifle hidden from creditors

Another accusation concerns the accusation of fraudulent Krida. Benko is said to have prevented or reduced the satisfaction of creditors’ claims as part of the insolvency of Signa Holding GmbH and his personal insolvency as a sole proprietor. Specifically, it’s about a hunting rifle worth 80,000 euros that Benko is said to have hidden.

This accusation is part of a larger procedural strand surrounding Benko’s bankruptcy. The WKStA has already brought two further charges against the real estate investor in this complex. The investigation into additional allegations is ongoing.

Suspicion of process fraud

In addition, the WKStA confirmed a new line of investigation. There is suspicion of attempted serious fraud in a civil case – this time against a family member of Benko and against Benko himself as a perpetrator.

The relative is said to have tried to deceive the responsible judge in the Innsbruck regional court in order to fend off a lawsuit for repayment. The aim is said to have been to damage Benko’s insolvent estate by two million euros.

Specifically, it is about a payment of two million euros that Benko transferred to his relatives in January 2023. In order to prevent this money from flowing back to the creditors, the relative is said to have falsely claimed in court that it was a maintenance payment and not a gift. As evidence, she is said to have presented a document with incorrect content – a so-called “memorandum”.

Benko is said to have contributed to this act by untruthfully testifying in court that he had written the document and that the million-dollar payment was actually intended as “additional maintenance.”

Penalty range up to ten years

The penalty range for the current charge is one to ten years in prison. The indictment came after approval of a corresponding project report by the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Federal Ministry of Justice after referral to the Instructions Council.

That’s what his defense attorney Norbert Wess says

“We cannot understand the allegations in the indictment from a legal point of view. The claim against the Haselsteiner Private Foundation was already overdue – before the guarantee statement was issued – and the hunting rifle in question was never owned by Mr. René Benko,” said defense attorney Norbert Wess in a statement.