Signa Founder Benko Implicates Gusenbauer in Payment Probe

Signa founder René Benko has reportedly implicated Alfred Gusenbauer, the former chief of the Signa Prime supervisory board, in a recent interrogation concerning a significant payment. According to a report by "Der Standard," Benko stated that Gusenbauer was aware that a supervisory board resolution was necessary for the disbursement.

The Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA) has been investigating Gusenbauer since spring for alleged breach of trust and fraud. The accusation centers on Gusenbauer's actions in October and November 2022, when, in his capacity as supervisory board chief for Signa Development and Signa Prime, he allegedly misused his authority. This misuse is said to have caused a loss of 10 million euros to the two companies through an "unjustified advance payment on a profit-sharing agreement" that he purportedly approved and ordered to be paid without the full supervisory board's authorization.

Benko, who is not an accused party in these investigations, reportedly stated in his late July interrogation that the funds were transferred in November 2022 based on a signed contract. He emphasized that Gusenbauer had concluded this contract without the approval of the entire supervisory board, despite knowing that such a resolution was essential. Benko's testimony suggests that a circular resolution for the supervisory board had been prepared by Signa's legal counsel prior to the contract signing, and that Gusenbauer and the accused board member were aware of this.

Gusenbauer has denied the allegations. His lawyer stated that Gusenbauer is cooperating with authorities and has not commented on Benko's statements. However, "Der Standard" reported that Gusenbauer did address the matter in a challenge proceeding concerning the Prime estate administrator against the board member, in which Gusenbauer is involved as a secondary intervener. In that proceeding before the Commercial Court, he reportedly admitted that...