"Krone" reports live

Benko trial continues: Will there be a verdict today?

Record bankrupt Rene Benko receives a 24-month prison sentence in Innsbruck.(Bild: APA/BARBARA GINDL)

Day two of the trial against billionaire bankrupt René Benko (48) in Innsbruck. The agenda included the questioning of several witnesses, after which the court passed judgment. Benko was acquitted in the Hungerburg Villa case. However, Benko was convicted because of the gift of money between his mother and him. The "Krone" reported from the court, follow the events here in the live ticker!

The most important facts at a glance: 

• On Wednesday, René Benko was acquitted on one charge and found guilty on the other in the first trial since the Signa bankruptcy. 

• The WKStA accused him of fraudulent crida. Benko was alleged to have concealed assets from his creditors by means of an advance rent payment for the villa in question. The judge did not consider this to be proven. 

• Benko's defense lawyer Norbert Wess had previously requested an acquittal. The economic and corruption prosecution wanted the record-breaking bankrupt to remain in custody. 

• The verdict is not legally binding, neither the prosecutors nor the defense have made a statement.

René Benko at the start of the trial on Wednesday.(Bild: APA/BARBARA GINDL)

Public prosecutor Peter Komenda with judge Andrea Wegscheider(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

Acquittal in the Hungerburg case
The first part of the indictment concerned the Benkos' villa on the Hungerburg in Innsbruck, which was to serve as the new family residence, as well as advance rental payments for the same. Signa controller Arthur A. stated at the trial that the idea for the advance rent payment had come "from René".

Nevertheless, at the end of the day, the court did not consider it proven that the villa was uninhabitable at the time of the advance rent payment and therefore there was no evidence that money had been hidden here: "Mr. Benko intended to live there. And anyone who knows the rents in Innsbruck can also imagine these sums," the judge explained in her ruling. 

24 months for a gift of money
The second part of the indictment related to a payment made to his mother at the end of November 2023. Although this part of the indictment was given little space during the trial - the majority of witnesses stated that they had "no perception" of it - Benko was found guilty of having concealed the cash gifts from his "straw mother" from the creditors and therefore guilty of fraudulent crida. 

However, as the amount of damages was reduced to less than 300,000 euros due to the acquittal, a lighter prison sentence was decided upon - up to five years would have been possible. In the end, the sentence was 24 months unconditional, although the former financial juggler will be credited for his pre-trial detention. 

Follow the trial against René Benko here in the live ticker: 

Benko did not answer any questions
Benko himself had already refused to answer questions from the prosecutor or the defense on the first day of the trial. He had only answered the judge's instructions and questioning quietly and curtly, then referred to a rebuttal statement he had submitted, from which his defense lawyer also quoted in his closing statement. "Krone" investment journalist Rainer Fleckl, who has been researching Benko and the Signa complex for over ten years, saw this as a familiar pattern for the bankrupt. 

However, Benko, who has been in custody since January 2025, is still facing further proceedings. A further indictment has already been filed against him and his wife. The WKStA is also investigating twelve other sets of proceedings relating to the largest company bankruptcy in European post-war history.