Overview

• Proceedings began on October 14 at the Innsbruck regional court, where Benko declined to answer questions and a swift verdict is expected on Wednesday.
• Prosecutors allege fraudulent bankruptcy tied to a €360,000 rent prepayment for a Hungerburg villa and a €300,000 transfer to his mother, an offense carrying one to ten years in prison.
• Benko has been held in pre-trial detention since January 2025 and made his first public appearance in months; eight witnesses are scheduled, with close relatives able to refuse testimony.
• Authorities are pursuing numerous additional lines of inquiry in Austria, Germany and Italy, and a separate indictment alleges cash of €120,000 and luxury watches were kept in a hidden safe.
• The case unfolds against a backdrop of vast creditor claims reported near €27 billion and a highly opaque web of Signa entities, while this initial trial is limited to the €660,000 allegations.