Corona Aid: WKStA Investigations Against Rene Benko

The focus of the investigations is on subsidies for the "Chalet N" at Arlberg, which is used as a hotel. According to WKStA, Benko could have used the property mainly for private purposes, which calls into question the payout of the Corona aid. The WKStA disclosed this information in a confirmation to the APA in connection with an ORF report.

WKStA Investigations Against Rene Benko on Suspicion of Subsidy Abuse

The WKStA suspects that Chalet N served "mainly" as accommodation for Benko and his business partners and therefore should not have received any Covid subsidies. The subsidy funds were used in particular to finance Benko's private lifestyle, to compensate for expenses of other Signa companies, and for invitations to prominent guests, instead of for the payment of hotel employees who had become unemployed. In total, the WKStA is therefore investigating Benko on suspicion of serious fraud, instigation to breach of trust, and subsidy abuse.

"We were able to prove with numerous sources 1.5 years ago that the Lecher Chalet was used less as a hotel, but more as a private holiday home by Benko, his family and his guests. Benko was probably his own best guest and yet he collected COVID economic aid in the millions for the Chalet N," criticized the Green MP Nina Tomaselli in a reaction available to the APA.

(APA/Red)

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