After the raids in Italy, in which the Signa boss was also placed under house arrest, a specific accusation against René Benko has now become known. The Trent public prosecutor suspects the Tyrolean entrepreneur and founder of Signa of being the “leader of a mafia-like criminal organization”.
As evident from the investigation files, it is alleged that the said association was established for the purpose of obtaining concessions and permits in order to make unjustified profits.
Benko headed the “criminal organization” with the help of Bolzano tax advisor Heinz Peter Hager and entrepreneur Paolo Signoretti from the city of Rovereto, the Trentino Public Prosecutor’s Office said. Hager is also CEO of the Laura Private Foundation, named after Benko’s daughter.
Investigations against 77 people
A total of 77 people are being investigated, including five South Tyroleans. Eight people were placed under house arrest. The Public Prosecution Service is investigating, among other things, corruption, criminal association, fraud and violation of official secrecy in Trento, Bolzano, Verona, Brescia, Milan, Pavia and Rome.
The head of Bolzano’s city planning department, Daniela Eisenstecken, is suspected of using her office to issue permits without adhering to legal requirements, investigators said. She is said to have played an important role in the alleged criminal organization. She is also said to have “created a file with confidential information about administrative employees and officials” to blackmail them.
Orders in exchange for favors, gifts, monetary payments?
According to the investigators, the entrepreneurs involved fraudulently obtained government contracts by granting favors, gifts and monetary payments to civil servants and administrative staff. The investigation continues. The presumption of innocence applies to all involved.
“Here we are in the middle of the mafia scene”
Responding to the new accusations from Italy, Vice Chancellor and Civil Service Minister Werner Kogler (Greens) also said on Wednesday: “I cannot say exactly what the accusations are in Italy. They sound lush, but I can’t verify that. “We are in the middle of the mafia scene,” the politician said on the sidelines of a press conference in Vienna. ‘In any case, we didn’t go to parties with Mr. Benko or shoot deer. Perhaps they should take those who have basked in the light by the nose and direct their questions there; I would like to participate. Perhaps there should be a U committee.”
The investigation by the Trent Public Prosecutor’s Office into alleged corruption and construction speculation also concerns the well-known South Tyrolean entrepreneur and SkyAlps boss Josef Gostner. Heliopolis AG, owned by Trentino entrepreneur Paolo Signoretti, who is under house arrest, was ordered to work on expanding the runway at Bolzano airport. According to investigators, there was an agreement between the two to “deceive the inspection staff of the Italian civil aviation authority Enac by concealing the actual groundwater level in the area affected by the airport expansion.” As a result of this approach, Gostner would have received approval to expand the runway.
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.
