Benko and Co.: Investigations into Vienna's pre-trial detention shake up high society

Benko and Co.: Investigations into Vienna's pre-trial detention shake up high society

René Benko, who was once known as a billionaire and prominent Tyrolean real estate entrepreneur, has been in custody at the Vienna Josefstadt Prison since January 24, 2025. According to the public prosecutor's office, there is a "risk of committing a crime", which justifies the decision to remand him. The accusation against Benko includes fraud and breach of trust. He is suspected of having misled investors into making false investments by pretending that the Benko family private foundation would bring 35 million euros into Signa Holding GmbH. In fact, these funds came from the investors themselves, which suggests that Benko wanted to run a capital increase money carousel, as Die Presse reports.

Benko's pre-trial detention was most recently extended until February 28, 2025. The judge explained in the first hearing that the detention was imposed due to the risk of blackout and escape. The exact conditions in the detention center are spartan. The detention room in which Benko is housed is initially monitored by camera for security reasons and includes a wet cell with a sink and toilet. U.S. prisoners who are not employed at the facility are only allowed to shower twice a week, while Benko has so far shown no interest in taking part in work programs.

Development of prison conditions

The next detention hearing for Benko is scheduled for June 10, 2025 at the latest. In the meantime, he has hired his lawyers to defend himself. The experienced criminal lawyer Norbert Wess, who also represents Florian Fritsch, a German entrepreneur, is taking care of Benko's affairs. Fritsch is accused of stealing 14 kilograms of gold from a Vienna depot and was arrested in Regensburg. The Nuremberg Higher Regional Court has approved extradition to Austria, and the Vienna public prosecutor's office confirmed that Fritsch has now arrived in Austria. A judge will decide on Fritsch's detention application this weekend.

The Josefstadt prison is increasingly becoming the scene of spectacular investigations against formerly influential entrepreneurs, and the developments surrounding Benko and Fritsch are attracting a lot of attention. All affected people enjoy the presumption of innocence, while the judiciary carefully examines the allegations, as 5min emphasizes.

In order to understand the general conditions of pre-trial detention a little better, it is important to know that such detention is only imposed at the request of the public prosecutor and by a decision of the court. There must be strong suspicion and the reasons for detention include the risk of absconding and the possibility that the accused may commit crimes again or destroy evidence of the allegations against him. The legal basis for pre-trial detention is detailed in österreich.gv.at.

If you look at the events surrounding René Benko, it becomes clear that the pre-trial detention significantly influences not only the life of the entrepreneur, but also that of his roommates in the prison. The coming weeks will show what new developments can be expected in this complex case.