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René Benko in court: accusation of fraud and 660,000 euros in damages!
The criminal trial against René Benko begins in Innsbruck on October 14, 2025 for fraudulent Krida and bankruptcy.
René Benko in court: accusation of fraud and 660,000 euros in damages!
On October 14th and 15th, 2025, the eagerly awaited criminal trial against the controversial entrepreneur René Benko will begin in the jury court in Innsbruck. This trial will be held in the jury courtroom and the hearing will start at 9 a.m. on both days. On the first day the meeting is scheduled until 6 p.m. and on the second day until 8 p.m. Benko faces serious charges and could face between one and ten years in prison if convicted. The indictment relates to fraudulent Krida, specifically preventing and undermining the satisfaction of creditors' claims during his insolvency as a sole proprietor. The amount of damage amounts to a total of 660,000 euros Small newspaper reported.
The procedure is part of a wide-ranging complex known as “Signa”. According to the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office The indictment complex includes more than a dozen defendants and two associations. The total damage determined in this case amounts to around 300 million euros, which illustrates the scope of the investigation. These have been carried out since the end of 2023 in collaboration with the Federal Criminal Police Office's SOKO Signa, which has also carried out numerous house searches and seizures.
Details about the allegations
As part of his bankruptcy, Benko is said to have set aside specific assets. Among other things, he is accused of embezzling advance payments for rent and operating costs amounting to around 360,000 euros for a house. A gift of 300,000 euros to relatives is also in the dock; both transactions were carried out under the pressure of his payment difficulties and right before the planned bankruptcy declaration.
The investigation in this complex case is so extensive that several terabytes of data were also evaluated. The investigation file already includes around 1,500 serial numbers, which illustrates the complexity of the entire matter.
Economic crime in Austria
The allegations against Benko tear a deep hole in the current discussion about economic crime in Austria and worldwide. A global study by KPMG International has found that over 80 percent of white collar criminals are male and often have long-standing loyalty to the company. These perpetrators often operate from a position that gives them access to financial resources and key decision-making processes. Financial greed and opportunism are cited as main motivations, while personal problems usually do not play a role in the crimes.
As Benko's case shows, this form of crime is not just an individual failure, but part of a larger problem that affects numerous companies. The upcoming negotiations could therefore not only decide the fate of an individual entrepreneur, but also have far-reaching consequences for the perception of economic corruption and fraud in Austria.