Corona funding

Benko tax consultant also in the investigators’ sights

TPA partner Karin Fuhrmann is suspected of being involved in a funding fraud surrounding Chalet N. The case involves 1.2 million euros of taxpayers' money.

Thursday, January 23rd. At 8.30 a.m., Soko Signa detectives arrest René Benko in his office at Kaufhaus Tyrol. At the same time, investigators on behalf of the Economic and Corruption Prosecution Office (WKStA) comb through Chalet N in Oberlech, which the financial juggler and his family repeatedly used as a luxury winter residence.

There was even a "private office"
 The Benko chalet on the Arlberg is part of the Laura foundation empire, which the administrator of the billionaire bankrupt has been trying to crack since January 30 at the Innsbruck regional court.

Officially, a hotel was registered in Lech. However, the investigators are now seriously questioning this information. In their opinion: The six-star residence had served "mainly as accommodation for René Benko and his business partners". Benko even had a "private office" there, to which only he had access. 

According to investigations by "Krone" and "News", the allegation is now one of serious fraud. René Benko and accomplices are accused of having collected a state subsidy of 1.2 million euros for the alleged "private hotel" during the coronavirus pandemic. From the COFAG pot, which was filled with taxpayers' money.

"Preparation of incorrect expert reports"
 The investigators believe that the funding was misused: not for the official closure of a hotel, but among other things "to finance René Benko's private lifestyle".

One of the country's best-known tax consultants is also being targeted: Karin Fuhrmann, a partner at TPA and a close Benko confidante for many years, is alleged to have been involved in the serious fraud or misuse of funding, according to the WKStA. A WKStA document refers to the "preparation of incorrect expert opinions, statements and confirmations as enclosures to the funding applications".

Benko and Fuhrmann have always vehemently denied all allegations. The presumption of innocence applies.