Jailed tycoon René Benko trades legal files for carpentry in detention
René Benko, the former investor and founder of Signa Group, has requested permission to work as a carpenter while in pretrial detention. The Austrian businessman, held for over a year, now plans to train in the trade after authorities approved his application. His legal team confirms the move marks a shift from reviewing case files to practical activity.
Benko built his career over two decades as a high-profile investor, founding Signa Group around 2003. His company took on major projects, including Berlin's KaDeWe department store, Hamburg's Elbtower, and New York's Chrysler Building. Acquisitions like Karstadt, Kaufhof, and London's Selfridges further expanded his portfolio.
Since his detention, Benko's focus had been on studying the legal case against him. His lawyer, Norbert Wess, noted that no significant new evidence or investigative leads have emerged in months. Recently, however, Benko sought a change of routine. The Innsbruck Penitentiary and prosecutors have now granted his request to train in carpentry. His detention, extended until April, will include this new occupation. Wess described the decision as a way for Benko to use his time constructively while awaiting trial.
The approval allows Benko to begin carpentry work within the prison system. His legal team has not indicated whether this move will affect his defence strategy. The case remains ongoing, with no trial date yet set.
