2nd day COFAG Committee

Benko’s tax audit: questions to two tax officials

(Bild: APA/AFP/Aris OIKONOMOU)

Second day of questioning in the parliamentary committee of inquiry into COFAG. The Tyrolean real estate juggler René Benko was again the focus of attention today - in particular the relocation of Signa's headquarters from Vienna to Innsbruck and the reasons for this. Two tax officials involved in his tax audit were questioned by the MPs. COFAG managing director provided information on overpromotions. The "Krone" was live on site.

• Following the many Signa insolvencies, René Benko is also insolvent as a private individual, as the "Krone" learned today from court circles.
• The first tax official questioned gave an insight into the strange transfer of Signa's registered office to Innsbruck, which led him to suspect abuse of office.
• The second official was questioned about alleged "tax optimization" in the treatment of Benko's private jet, which was at the taxpayers' expense.
• He described how Thomas Schmid and Eduard Müller - the current head of the Financial Market Authority - known in the Ministry of Finance as the "twins", had initiated illegal investigations against him and sent out an "intervention force". The SPÖ and FPÖ are demanding Müller's resignation.
• COFAG managing director Marc Schimpel was questioned as the third respondent. He justified the actions taken during the pandemic and provided information on overfunding and reclaims.

Eduard Müller (archive photo) is the current head of the Financial Market Authority

(Bild: APA/AFP/Aris OIKONOMOU)

After the questioning on Thursday, the COFAG committee of inquiry will take a two-week break. Next week, questioning will begin in the committee set up by the ÖVP on "red-blue abuse of power".