The South Tyrolean tax advisor and confidant of the bankrupt Signa René Benko, Heinz Peter Hager, must remain under house arrest. A corresponding request to vacate the arrest was denied.
According to the Trent Public Prosecution Service, an extensive investigation is underway and there is a suspicion of a ‘mafia-like criminal organization’.
External contacts allowed
However, the investigating judge in Trento granted both Hager and an official from Bolzano the right to have contacts with the outside world or with people other than their lawyers, the daily newspaper ‘Corriere del Trentino’ reported.
It’s different with the officer. She had also asked to return to work – in another department of the community. But the court followed the advice of the public prosecutor, who ruled against this.
House arrest was only lifted in one case
This meant that house arrest was lifted or replaced by a residence permit for only one out of a total of eight people suspected of membership of a criminal organization: the mayor of the municipality of Riva del Garda in Trentino, Cristina Santi.
Now the ball goes to the Trentino Freedom Court, where those affected can challenge the security measure of house arrest. Negotiations will take place until December 20.
Benko under suspicion of mafia
Hager belongs to the group of people who have been under house arrest since last week as a result of extensive investigations that also affect Benko. The Trent Public Prosecution Service suspects Benko of being “the leader of a mafia-like criminal organization” that was founded with the aim of obtaining concessions and permits in order to make unjustified profits, according to the investigation files.
Benko headed the criminal organization with the help of Bolzano tax advisor Hager and an entrepreneur from the city of Rovereto, judicial authorities said. Hager is also CEO of the Laura Private Foundation, named after Benko’s daughter.
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.
