On Thursday morning, the handcuffs clicked for René Benko in his office in Innsbruck. In the early evening he was admitted to the Vienna-Josefstadt (JA) prison, where he was moved to a solitary cell in the ‘Gray House’ – as the penitentiary has been called by the Viennese since the beginning of its existence. On Friday, the bankrupt plate was finally taken into custody.
Because the Code of Criminal Procedure stipulates that pre-trial detainees may not be locked up in a cell with other pre-trial detainees if they have no previous convictions or have only been convicted of minor offences, Benko is housed alone in a cell and is currently monitored via video – which is standard procedure in high-profile cases.
Benko is allowed to wear his own clothes
As a U prisoner, Benko is generally allowed to wear his own underwear and clothing and can use his own bedding. He is also allowed to use his own belongings that were not taken from him when he was admitted to the penitentiary. Benko also has the right to obtain food and drinks in accordance with the rules of the local criminal justice system.
Right to two visits per week
The 47-year-old real estate juggler, who is accused of, among other things, defrauding investors and harming creditors, is allowed to employ himself and is not obliged to work. Benko may also receive newspapers and is entitled to two visits per week of a maximum of half an hour.
The days on which Benko may receive visitors – the visiting days are Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday – depend on the responsible business department (number of files). However, prior permission must be obtained for a visit from the responsible public prosecutor’s office, in this specific case from the WKStA.
An initial detention hearing or release must take place no later than two weeks after the arrest. During this detention hearing it will be investigated whether the conditions for Benko’s detention are still met – which can be assumed in this case.
Maximum six months in prison
In principle, pre-trial detention may last a maximum of six months. However, in certain circumstances the sentence can last up to one year – or even two years if a crime punishable by a prison sentence of more than five years is suspected. If no trial has begun after these two years, Benko should be released immediately.
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.
