The trial of 49-year-old Signa founder René Benko began Tuesday morning at the Innsbruck Regional Court. Presided over by Judge Norbert Hofer, the lay assessor trial focuses on a 360,000-euro rent prepayment for a villa in Innsbruck's Hungerburg district.
The WKStA alleges Benko reduced creditor satisfaction through this payment. While Benko was sentenced to two years in October 2025, the Supreme Court overturned a partial acquittal in July, referring the rent case back for retrial to determine a new sentence.
Benko, in custody since January 2025, was previously found guilty of withholding 300,000 euros via a gift to his mother. With seven witnesses summoned, the court now weighs charges carrying a sentencing range of one to ten years for the former real estate mogul.