After Italian raids

René Benko’s governor arrested in South Tyrol

(Bild: APA/EXPA/JOHANN GRODER)

Signa Italy boss Heinz Peter Hager, 65, South Tyrol's best-known auditor, was placed under house arrest by the Italian authorities on Tuesday. He is suspected of forming a criminal organization. René Benko is also among the accused, and the public prosecutor's office in Trento even wants to have him arrested! But the real estate juggler is still at large ...

He was considered to be the last governor of the real estate speculator. He was head of Signa Italia for years. And still sits as chairman on the board of the Laura Private Foundation, in which many observers of the Signa demise suspect that the Benkos still have a shadow empire worth millions.

The bombshell followed on Tuesday morning: Heinz-Peter Hager was placed under house arrest by a special commando of the Carabinieri and the financial police at the request of the public prosecutor's office in Trento. What's more, the Italian authorities want to have financial juggler Benko arrested.

René Benko should not leave Austria for the time being.

(Bild: APA/EXPA/JOHANN GRODER)

Interrogation in Tyrol, but no arrest
Benko himself was questioned in this case by the Tyrolean State Criminal Police Office on Tuesday. He is at large, although a European arrest warrant has been issued for him. However, this would not be enforced at present. The Innsbruck public prosecutor's office is currently examining whether the offenses Benko is accused of in Italy would also be punishable in Austria. 

A European arrest warrant does not have to be executed if it concerns an Austrian citizen against whom corresponding proceedings can also be conducted in Austria, explained public prosecutor's office spokesman Hansjörg Mayr. The Innsbruck prosecution authorities did not provide any further details - including the content of the interrogation.

The Innsbruck Regional Court will ultimately decide on the extradition. A decision was no longer expected on Tuesday, as the judiciary did not see any "urgency" ...

Benko should probably not leave the country
Insiders assume that Benko's legal representatives have ensured, or will ensure, that a so-called flag is placed in the Schengen Information System. This would ensure that every Austrian police station would have the decision of the Innsbruck public prosecutor's office to leave Benko at large for the time being at a glance in the computer. Benko would then not have to fear being stopped and confronted with the European arrest warrant at every encounter with the police. 

To be on the safe side, however, the 47-year-old should not leave the country for the time being. The risk of handcuffs clicking in neighboring countries due to the arrest warrant issued by Italy would not be insignificant.

Heinz Peter Hager

(Bild: zVg)

Two Signa transactions in his sights
According to information from "Krone", the proceedings involve numerous property transactions that could also have something to do with politics. Hager is one of a total of 77 suspects in the case, and Benko himself has also been on the list of suspects for some time. As have eleven civil servants, 20 managers, police employees and several South Tyrolean entrepreneurs. Projects in the years 2018 to 2022 were investigated.

Apparently, two Signa transactions, including the airport, are also being scrutinized by the investigators. The investigations are being coordinated by the Anti-Mafia Directorate at the public prosecutor's office in Trento.

Long list of allegations
The entire complex involves allegations of criminal conspiracy, bid-rigging, illegal party financing, illegal influence peddling, fraud, unlawful receipt of funds to the detriment of the state and various crimes against the public administration. The presumption of innocence applies to all defendants, who deny all allegations.

On Tuesday afternoon, house searches were still underway in the Bolzano area, where Hager runs a large law firm. A total of 100 searches were carried out on Tuesday.