Will Rene Benko actually appear as a person to provide information before the Cofag investigative committee today? This question was on the minds of a large proportion of MPs yesterday at the start of the second week of the session. After all, it would be the first opportunity for the Tyrolean to publicly explain himself since the spectacular bankruptcy of his Signa real estate group. Benko’s rejection came yesterday evening.
Because of the countless allegations that are currently being made once morest his client, it is impossible to prepare for an interview and any rights to refuse to testify, Benko’s lawyer explained.
Innsbruck tax office
On Wednesday, the focus was on three high-ranking employees of the Innsbruck tax office. With the relocation of Signa’s headquarters from Vienna to Innsbruck in 2018, testing responsibilities for the real estate group also moved to the Tyrolean capital.
Apart from the ÖVP, all factions in the Innsbruck tax office suspected a system in which the rich were given preference under certain conditions. “We are making a scandal out of nothing,” said one of the officials, rejecting these allegations. They were “neither involved nor informed”. Benko was sometimes even treated worse.
Previously, a major auditor who had to process ten Signa companies reported an anomaly. Accordingly, the Signa Luxury Collection did not pay the rent for Chalet N, which in turn belongs to another Signa company. What was unusual was that no interest was paid on the accumulated rent arrears, which he subsequently stipulated. However, he cannot order a company to “collect debts”. It is still unclear whether Benko used the chalet primarily for private purposes and only operated it ostensibly commercially. However, “friendship” has not yet been proven with rent arrears, the official said. The witness was unable to confirm the allegation that Cofag subsidies might also have flowed for Chalet N.
Benko’s privately used villa in Innsbruck-Igls was also discussed. The Vienna-based Schlosshotel Igls Betriebs GmbH & Co KG acted as the owner and recouped twelve million euros in sales taxes for renovations. This is only possible for commercial use, as an official confirmed. He was unable to explain why this was only being examined now, six years following the first reports of inconsistencies.
The sale of the Golden Quarter in downtown Vienna to a company that was friends of Signa was also discussed. The Viennese colleagues wanted to tax the associated considerable increase in value much higher than the Innsbruck Finanz (ultimately at 36 million euros, note).
The latter witnesses also rejected the accusation of special treatment in this case. They only carried out what had already been determined.
Many people are interested in the Lamarr department store
The shell of the Lamarr luxury department store on Vienna’s Mariahilfer Strasse shopping mile is attracting keen interest from potential buyers at home and abroad. The insolvency administrator of the insolvent company, Clemens Richter, said this yesterday. The exploitation process is “in full swing”, but he might not give a timetable or details regarding the bidders. The industry assumes that more than 30 bidders are interested.
Richter spoke following an audit and meeting at the insolvent department store construction company Mariahilfer Straße 10-18 Immobilien GmbH. The company, which belongs to the Signa Group, is the owner of the property; it had to file for bankruptcy in February due to the bankruptcy of Signa Prime. The department store, named following the Vienna-born Hollywood diva and inventor Hedy Lamarr, was scheduled to open in spring 2025.
The Lamarr company is owned 50 percent each by Signa Prime Capital Invest GmbH – a subsidiary of the also insolvent Signa Prime Selection – and Skyred Holding 9, a company of the Thai Central Group, which itself operates department stores, restaurants and hotels.
Author
Lucian Mayringer
Internal politics editor
Lucian Mayringer
