The key facts

  • The Innsbruck court sentenced René Benko to two years in prison for fraud involving 5 million euros from the foundation of Hans Peter Haselsteiner
  • This is the third conviction: in October 2025 — two years for bankruptcy-related fraud, in September 2026 — 30 months for damaging creditors' interests
  • On the second count — concealing a hunting rifle worth 80,000 euros from creditors — Benko was acquitted

Third verdict within a year

The Innsbruck regional court has sentenced Austrian businessman René Benko to two years in prison, finding him guilty of fraud: according to the prosecution, he received 5 million euros from the private foundation of industrialist Hans Peter Haselsteiner. The money arrived just a few weeks before Signa Holding declared insolvency. This was reported by Deutsche Welle.

Context of the series of cases

This is already the third criminal case against the 49-year-old Benko. According to DW, in October 2025 he was sentenced to two years in prison for fraud related to bankruptcy, and in September 2026 he received 30 months for damaging creditors' interests. The new verdict was handed down just three weeks after Benko was transferred from custody to house arrest to serve his previous sentence. His lawyer said he would assess over the weekend whether to file an appeal. On the second count — concealing a luxury hunting rifle worth 80,000 euros from creditors — the court acquitted Benko.

The fall of Signa

Benko was regarded in Austria as a 'wunderkind' — a self-made entrepreneur who dropped out of university. At the height of Signa Holding, his portfolio was valued at more than 30 billion dollars and included stakes in the Chrysler Building skyscraper in New York and the KaDeWe department store in Berlin. In 2023, the company declared bankruptcy, hitting numerous European real estate investors. The fall of Signa was called the biggest shock to the European real estate market since the 2008 global financial crisis.