Editor’s Note
This article examines the ongoing investigation into the personal spending of René Benko, founder of the insolvent Signa Group. Prosecutors are focusing on whether company funds were used for private luxury items, including high-value gifts for family members.
Investigators are dissecting the personal expenditures of René Benko – and have his wife in their sights.
Prosecutors are scrutinizing whether funds from the insolvent Signa Group were used for private luxury purchases by the founder René Benko and his family. Among the items under investigation are luxury watches for his sons and an expensive horse purchased as a birthday gift for his wife, Nathalie Benko. The horse alone is reported to have cost around 150,000 euros.
The investigation is part of a broader probe into alleged breach of trust and fraudulent dealings within the Signa conglomerate. The specific purchase from the high-end jeweler Harry Winston has drawn particular attention from authorities.