Overview

• René Benko pleaded not guilty as prosecutors accused him of fraudulent bankruptcy over roughly €660,000 linked to his private insolvency.
• The case centers on a four‑year rent prepayment of about €360,000 to a company tied to a family foundation for a Hungerburg villa and a €300,000 transfer to a relative.
• Proceedings were adjourned after about two hours and will resume Wednesday, with eight witnesses scheduled, while Benko declined to answer detailed questions.
• The defense argued the rent advance had recoverable value, whereas the prosecution said Benko aimed to shield assets to maintain a luxurious lifestyle.
• Benko remains in pre‑trial detention since January 2025 and faces up to ten years in prison, as wider investigations tied to the Signa collapse continue in Austria with parallel probes in Germany and Italy, including a separate WKStA case over cash and luxury items.