Rene Benko with Objection Against Second Indictment in Signa Case

Following Rene Benko's appeal against the second charge in the Signa case, the Innsbruck Higher Regional Court (OLG) will now handle the case. So far, there has only been one charge, also for fraudulent bankruptcy, against the Tyrolean, which is final and will be heard in mid-October.

Rene Benko is alleged to have concealed assets

A co-defendant of Benko's - who is said to have contributed to Benko's actions - had already filed an appeal against the charge last week. It is currently "not foreseeable" whether, in the event of a dismissal of the appeal against the second charge, this will also be heard at the trial scheduled for October 14 and 15 at the Innsbruck Regional Court, it was said on Monday. There is a minimum period of eight days between the finalization of the charge and the trial, court spokesperson Birgit Fink recently explained.

According to the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA), the lawsuit involves damages totaling 370,000 euros. Specifically, it concerns cash amounting to 120,000 euros as well as eleven high-priced watches, cufflinks, watch straps, and other items with a total value of almost 250,000 euros. The mentioned assets are said to have been hidden in a safe in the house of relatives. The co-defendant is said to have assisted in this. The penalty range is one to ten years in prison.

In the first charge, the Tyrolean real estate entrepreneur is also accused of having prevented or reduced the satisfaction of creditor claims during his insolvency as a sole proprietor by allegedly concealing assets. The charge concerned, on the one hand, the advance payment of rent and operating costs amounting to 360,000 euros for the rental of a house, which were said to be economically and factually unjustifiable, as well as a gift of 300,000 euros to relatives. The charge will be heard in the large jury courtroom of the regional court.

WKStA investigates 14 strands of facts in the Signa case

The WKStA recently pursued 14 different strands of facts in the Signa case complex. In addition to fraudulent bankruptcy, the allegations include breach of trust, serious fraud, creditor favoritism, and subsidy fraud. It has more than a dozen suspects and two associations in its sights. The total damage under investigation currently amounts to around 300 million euros, according to the prosecutor's office. Benko has so far consistently denied all allegations.

(APA/Red)

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