Luxury safe in focus: How Nathalie Benko hid millions!

Luxury safe in focus: How Nathalie Benko hid millions!

In the current case involving real estate mogul René Benko and his wife Nathalie Benko, there are allegations of asset concealment. Investigators are reconstructing the events using WhatsApp messages, photos and several house searches. A new safe that attracted particular attention was selected from a dealer in Innsbruck at the beginning of March 2024 and delivered on March 11, just one day after the bankruptcy was declared.

The order was made “on behalf of Nathalie Benko”. The day before, she received a photo of the prepared site via WhatsApp with the response “Perfect”. In order to make the events even more opaque, the investigators documented that Nathalie Benko later remarked in a message: “Maybe burn the note at some point” - to which she received the answer “Already done”.

Contents of the safe and suspicion of concealment of assets

The safe is around 1.5 meters high and has a numerical code and a keyhole. During the house search, the safe was opened and investigators found cash, rings, wristwatches and cufflinks. The residents said that it was the property of the Benko family. This leads investigators to suspect that there is a pattern that indicates an attempt to deliberately steal assets from the reach of creditors.

The allegations made by the Economic and Corruption Public Prosecutor's Office (WKStA) specifically include that Nathalie Benko is said to have helped her husband hide luxury watches and cash. This involves watches worth almost 400,000 euros and cash amounting to 120,000 euros. Both René and Nathalie Benko have uniformly denied the allegations. René Benko presented the watches as Christmas presents for her underage sons, which were stored with her aunt for “safety reasons”. However, the couple's home is known to be "highly secured," which calls into question the argument of security concerns.

Investigations and current situation

A former bodyguard of Benko provided the crucial tip and led the investigators to the safe. During a raid in Innsbruck, investigators not only confiscated the contents of the safe, but also two hunting rifles, ammunition and 5,000 euros in cash. Nathalie Benko requested the return of the seized rings, but the investigators stood firm and pointed out the Benkos' active efforts to conceal their assets.

René Benko is currently in custody and Italy has issued an arrest warrant for him. While creditors wait for billions of dollars, Nathalie Benko's lawyer announces that although the accusations are confirmed, she cannot reveal any further information. The presumption of innocence applies to all people involved.