Overview

• René Benko, founder of the collapsed Signa Group, was arrested at his Innsbruck villa on charges of fraud, breach of trust, and asset concealment.
• Authorities allege Benko hid assets in the Laura Privatstiftung, falsified documents, and misled investors during his personal and corporate insolvency proceedings.
• Investigators claim Benko used a 'money carousel' to misrepresent his contributions to the Signa Group, encouraging further investments from partners.
• The joint Austrian-German investigation also examines allegations of investment fraud tied to a Munich real estate project and potential misuse of funds.
• Benko's arrest follows months of surveillance and legal scrutiny, marking a significant turn in the largest corporate insolvency in Austria's post-war history, with creditor claims exceeding €2.4 billion.