(ANSA-AFP) - VIENNA, JAN 23 - Anti-corruption officials said
Thursday that they had taken fallen real estate tycoon Rene
Benko into custody as part of a fraud probe, alleging the
founder of the insolvent Signa group had attempted to conceal
assets from authorities. Benko, once one of Austria's richest
men, founded the Signa empire in 2000 but the debt-laden group
crumbled in 2023 in the largest insolvency proceedings in the
country's history as interest rates rose. Prosecutors have been
investigating Benko on suspicion of fraud and corruption, among
other things. Benko "attempted to conceal assets" by having them
in a private foundation and "evade access by authorities,
trustees and creditors", the state economic crime and corruption
prosecutor (WKStA) said in a statement. He allegedly concealed
assets that included "high-priced weapons, watches and other
items" to prevent creditors gaining access to them. (ANSA-AFP).
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