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René Benko sentenced to two and a half years in prison
René Benko, the founder of the insolvent Signa Group, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison by the Innsbruck Regional Court. The verdict follows a partially reopened trial regarding allegations of creditor damage.
The core of the case involves a 360,000 Euro advance rent payment made for a residence in Innsbruck. The court determined that Benko made this payment while his business empire was in a critical state, thereby harming his creditors. This sentence is an increase from a previous two-year sentence handed down in October 2025, which had included a partial acquittal that was subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court (OGH).
Benko has denied all allegations, maintaining that he believed the restructuring of the Signa Group would succeed at the time of the payment. He stated the rental was made at his wife's request to provide their children with a normal lifestyle. Benko has been in pretrial detention since January 2025.
Entities
Innsbruck · Landesgericht Innsbruck · René Benko · Signa Group · Supreme Court of Austria
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [DISPUTED] René Benko was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by the Innsbruck Regional Court. www.rtl.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.harzkurier.de · www.bunte.de · ga.de · +7 more
- [DISPUTED] René Benko pleaded not guilty to the charges. www.rtl.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.harzkurier.de · www.bunte.de · ga.de · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The charge involves a 360,000 Euro advance payment for rent for a residence in Innsbruck. www.rtl.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.harzkurier.de · www.bunte.de · ga.de · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The Supreme Court overturned a partial acquittal from a previous trial, necessitating a retrial. www.rtl.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.harzkurier.de · www.bunte.de · ga.de · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The current sentence of two and a half years is an increase from the previous two-year sentence handed down in October 2025. www.rtl.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.harzkurier.de · www.bunte.de · ga.de · +7 more