New fraud charges against René Benko involve valuable hunting rifle

Fallen real estate magnate René Benko is preparing to face his third trial, with prosecutors now accusing him of fraud concerning his business activities shortly before the spectacular collapse of his Signa Group. This latest charge adds to a growing list of legal troubles for the Austrian billionaire, who has been in custody for nearly 18 months.

Benko has already been convicted twice on similar charges of "fraudulent insolvency." In the first instance, a court found he had defrauded creditors by gifting his mother €300,000 shortly before declaring personal bankruptcy. A subsequent conviction involved valuable watches and cufflinks he allegedly concealed from his creditors.

Both previous verdicts are still subject to appeal. The Austrian Supreme Court previously denied Benko's appeal against his prolonged pre-trial detention, describing him in a 110-page ruling as a "personality deeply rooted in economic crime" who could commit further serious offenses if released.

Prosecutors recently filed a new indictment against Benko, focusing on a luxury hunting rifle valued at €80,000. According to the weapons registry, Benko possessed an extensive collection, but a rifle of this caliber was reportedly missing during a raid in the summer of 2024. Authorities allege he hid this valuable firearm to prevent its seizure. Observers anticipate that Benko's pre-trial detention could soon transition into a prison sentence, especially with an appeal hearing for one of his earlier convictions scheduled soon.

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a personality deeply rooted in economic crime