René Benko: Inexpensive extended! Former partners expose the financial disaster

René Benko: Inexpensive extended! Former partners expose the financial disaster

The scandal around the insolvent founder René Benko is expanding: The 47-year-old has been in custody for over a month and sees serious allegations. Ex-investors and companions heavily burden him, as the reporting of OE24 and the press shows. In particular, Ernst Tanner, head of the head of the chocolate group Lindt & Sprüngli, said critically and explained: "Yes, of course I feel cheated, damaged and deceived." Tanner himself had been interrogated as a witness before the Signa Group's bankruptcy and had paid 2.1 million euros for a capital strengthening of the holding company and then determined that Benko had grown the money through various companies.

Benko as "Almighty sole ruler"

The charges against Benko focus on his role as a factual managing director of the entire Signa Group. Tanner emphasizes that "everything was decided according to his will". Other well -known investors, including Hans Peter Haselsteiner and Torsten Toeller, also draw a similar picture. Gusenbauer, former supervisory board leader, stated: "For me, he was the first decision, there were no other decision -makers." Toeller described Benko as a "almighty sole ruler" and reports of an opaque financial situation within the holding company, in which the shareholders had repeatedly asked for a clear balance, which was never provided.

The allegations not only include fraudulent machinations around capital increases, but also the hiding place of debts, which has accelerated the bankruptcy of Signa. In the meantime, Benko is also faced with the loss of his luxury villa in Innsbruck after Saudi investors demand hundreds of millions of euros from him. According to the Financial Times, the Laura Private Foundation demands that the Benko family get the Benko family out of the villa immediately. Benko's custody was extended until February 28th, while the investigation continues to clarify the exact circumstances of his financial disaster.

The situation around René Benko remains tense - while he is sitting in a single cell, the allegations rise against him. He and his lawyer deny the charges, but the presumption of innocence applies. Until the next prison negotiations, the everyday prison life will remain with strict rules and few amenities.