Hunters who seek refuge in noble hunting grounds together with René Benko can quickly find themselves in the crosshairs of researchers. Especially when they are not allowed to carry a weapon and turn up in the Stüblergut am Gaberl in Styria, which is valued at 30 million euros, with a weapons-related billion dollar bankruptcy.
As is known, the property belongs to a subsidiary of the Laura Private Foundation of Benkos – and this fact will probably also play a role in the investigation, which has now been moved from the Graz public prosecutor’s office to Innsbruck.
Regardless of who fired the shot and killed the Class III deer weighing 74 kilograms on September 28, 2024, a deputy governor like Georg Dornauer, as a member of the state government, should not be invited privately to a hunt, even if he is. It is only a participation and he does not receive the loot at all.
According to legal experts, the invitation itself (which Dornauer vehemently denies, mind you) itself amounts to an asset above the de minimis limit – especially if you are hunting on a Benko Foundation property and are accompanied by a head ranger who work is done there. This is regulated in the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code (acceptance or granting of benefits).
The judiciary here is very strict; the public prosecutor’s offices have already gained some experience with the incitement paragraph.
Is the foundation included in the drawing?
The role of the Benko Foundation also seems interesting: Since the spicy hunting photo appeared, not only the Austrian media have asked why René Benko can continue to live in luxury despite his personal bankruptcy. Even the renowned ‘Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung’ recently stated, somewhat irritated, in an article entitled ‘René Benko blows the whistle’: ‘Bankruptcy does not necessarily mean poverty.’ Thanks to his mother’s donations, the “financial juggler can continue to lead an extravagant lifestyle.”
However, with September’s Halali, the foundation could also find itself in the draw of the researchers: since René Benko officially no longer has anything to do with the Laura Private Foundation, the foundation or its bodies could be prosecuted as possible inviters under the Association Responsibility Act. .
Legal experts also believe that there may be a crime of breach of trust: if illustrious hunting rounds are not compatible with the purpose and guidelines of the foundation.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
