Fraud in the wine cellar: Benko in the sights of the investigators!

Fraud in the wine cellar: Benko in the sights of the investigators!

In Austria there are currently big vertebrae for the controversial entrepreneur René Benko. While he is in the Vienna Josefadt correctional facility, the rumors and investigations around his financial activities are boiling. A new final report by the Federal Criminal Police Office brings light into the dark and shows that there are massive irregularities in connection with his villa at Hungerburg in Innsbruck.

The legal challenges for Benko, which was taken to the crosshair by the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office. Among other things, the report provides a rental advance payment of 360,000 euros shortly before the Signa Group's bankruptcy, where the villa was not habitable over several months due to slope and water damage. This raises questions of how such payments could occur and whether they were in the best interest of all creditors. According to [news.at] (https://www.news.at/wirtschaft/benko-money carousel), there is even suspected of a system in which funds have been deliberately postponed through various companies and foundations in order to ultimately get back to Benko's property.

wine cellar in focus

But that's not all. A rental agreement for a wine cellar, which cost around 2,000 euros per month between 2010 and 2021 and was to be used exclusively for representation purposes, causes additional sensation. According to yahoo finance, the investigators also shed light on numerous irregularities that could possibly support Benko's procedure in the event of insolvency. According to reports, rumors about flows of money that could reduce the assets during bankruptcy costs.

The legal consequences for Benko could be serious. If the allegations are confirmed, he is imminent criminal and civil law consequences. The possibility of leading the company into bankruptcy and suspected fraudulent Krida (§ 156 StGB) could lead to a imprisonment of up to 10 years for Benko if the damage exceeds 300,000 euros. In Austria, companies must also apply for insolvency proceedings within 60 days of insolvency; If this does not succeed, there are further legal problems.

Investigations and outlook

The current investigations could not only affect René Benko himself. It is also believed that other actors in the area of ​​the Signa Group could be targeted by the public prosecutor. Should the image of the financial intrigues around Benko confirm, this could hit a swing into the shops of numerous foundations and companies involved. The uncertainty about the future legal situation and the associated financial responsibility throws great shadows on the future plans of the Signa Group.

At the upcoming crossroads, Benko has to try to invalidate the allegations and at the same time maintain the interests of his creditors. In such incidents, the time factor is crucial. The protective help of an experienced lawyer is essential for him in order to be able to avert the impending financial and criminal consequences.