According to the report, Benko had instructed him about a year ago to delete three or four emails and to evaluate emails, “Profil” reported online on Thursday, citing the interrogation protocol.
According to the report, he no longer knows which emails he should have deleted, but can reconstruct them. He did not delete them “because it would have been technically impossible.” Each email was saved and backed up multiple times. He was also supposed to evaluate emails – for example the email traffic between the German-Swiss Signa manager Ernst Dieter Berninghaus and his close colleague Ö., the news magazine reported. “I always said that I don’t do that and that it’s not possible,” the employee said.
Lucrative offer from Benko
René Benko is said to have made a lucrative offer to the IT employee, who worked for Signa for around two decades and was said to have been in close contact with Benko until a few weeks ago: According to this, he was to become the board member of the Laura Private Foundation (LPS), which was founded by Benko and his mother.
At the beginning of June this year, Benko presented him with an organizational chart showing the company structure under the foundation. “I remember that there were many companies, namely limited liability companies. In Leipzig there are many investment properties that belong to the LPS, or are scattered all over Germany and also in Austria,” “Profil” quoted the witness as saying. “That is a large property holding.” And: From his point of view, Benko has the say in the Laura Private Foundation. But in his opinion Benko also had the decision-making power in Signa, the witness told investigators.
No comment from Benko’s lawyer
Benko’s insolvency administrator recently failed in his attempt to restrict Benko’s mother’s rights at the foundation, as his application for an interim injunction was rejected by the Higher Regional Court.
René Benko’s lawyer did not comment on the matter.