First indictment against René Benko: fraudulent wealth covering!

First indictment against René Benko: fraudulent wealth covering!

Innsbruck, Österreich - On July 15, 2025, Austrian entrepreneur René Benko received his first charges for fraudulent Krida. This was announced by the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKSTA) and refers to the circumstances related to the bankruptcy of his Signa group. The indictment includes serious allegations, including the deliberate disguise of assets and the damage to creditors.

The specific charges include a rent advance of 360,000 euros for a villa and a donation of 300,000 euros to his mother. Both transactions are said to have been carried out under the pressure of payment difficulties and against the background of impending bankruptcy. The total damage amounts to around 660,000 euros. Benko has been in custody since January 23, 2025 and is faced with a possible arrest warrant of one ten years, if it is found to be guilty.

detailed allegations

The indictment was submitted to the Innsbruck Regional Court. WKStA's investigation not only relate to René Benko, but also to more than a dozen other accused and two associations as part of the Signa process complex. Complex allegations, including fraud, unfaithfulness and faithful to credit, are part of the extensive investigation, which is directed against a total of 1,500 order numbers. According to the WKStA, the total damage of the procedure amounts to around 300 million euros.

In this context, it is also remarkable that the WKStA has once again applied for the continuation of the pre -trial detention because there is a risk of escape. An application for a declaration has been made, but not yet approved.

economic crime in the field of vision

The situation of René Benko raises questions about the current situation of economic crime in Austria. According to KPMG, the topic has become more important because companies are increasingly confronted with new legal requirements. Among other things, this is related to the supply capacity duty law (LKSG), the company obliges to take measures to prevent human rights violations and environmental violations in their supply chain.

The results of KPMG show that 54 percent of the companies surveyed are not familiar with the regulations of the LKSG. In addition, 73 percent of companies see a significant impact on their own business, and 38 percent fear reputation damage in the event of violations. These figures illustrate the urgent need for action in the area of economic crime and the need to implement effective protective measures.

The developments around René Benko are not only an isolated case, but are the focus of a more comprehensive problem in the economy that deals with the public and the judiciary equally.

For more information about the indictment against René Benko, please read the reports from 5min and Meinbezirk . You can find out more about the challenges of economic crime in the detailed report by KPMG