# René Benko sentenced to additional prison time for fraud

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/20261104-ren-benko-fraud-and-bankruptcy-trial
> Updated: 2026-11-04T13:51:03.000Z. Sources: 26. Developments: 2.

René Benko, the founder of the collapsed Signa Group, has been sentenced to an additional two years in prison by the Innsbruck Regional Court. This follows a conviction for aggravated fraud involving a five million euro guarantee provided to the family trust of industrialist Hans Peter Haselsteiner.

The court determined that Benko provided a “wahrheitswidrige Garantie” (untruthful guarantee) in November 2023 to secure funds for the retailer SportScheck. This sentence will be added to a previous 30 month prison term handed down for defrauding creditors, bringing his total prison term to four and a half years.

Benko was acquitted of a separate charge regarding the alleged concealment of a luxury hunting rifle valued at 80,000 euros from insolvency administrators. The presiding judge, Norbert Hofer, ruled that the evidence did not support the claim that the weapon was being hidden from creditors. The verdict is not yet legally binding, as legal representatives have three days to decide on an appeal.

## Claims

- René Benko was sentenced to two years of imprisonment for aggravated fraud. (reported by 11 sources)
- The total prison sentence for Benko is now four and a half years. (reported by 5 sources)
- The fraud involved approximately 5 million euros. (reported by 11 sources)
- The victim of the fraud was the Hans Peter Haselsteiner family foundation. (reported by 11 sources)
- The previous sentence of 30 months was for creditor damage. (reported by 9 sources)
- Benko was acquitted of the charge of concealing a hunting rifle worth 80,000 euros. (reported by 8 sources)
- Benko used a false guarantee to obtain funds for SportScheck. (reported by 8 sources)
- The verdict is not yet legally binding. (reported by 6 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-11-04: René Benko sentenced to two years for aggravated fraud

Austrian real estate entrepreneur René Benko has been sentenced to two additional years in prison for defrauding Hans Peter Haselsteiner's foundation of 5 million euros.

17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ren-benko-faces-trial-for-alleged-fraud-and-creditor-deception

### 2026-11-02: René Benko faces new fraud trial in Innsbruck

Signa founder René Benko faces a new trial in Innsbruck for allegedly defrauding Hans Peter Haselsteiner's foundation of 5 million euros and concealing assets from creditors.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ren-benko-faces-new-trial-in-innsbruck-over-fraud-allegations

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Cite as: René Benko sentenced to additional prison time for fraud. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/20261104-ren-benko-fraud-and-bankruptcy-trial