Now the time has come: the police want to arrest René Benko. It has been known since yesterday that Italian anti-mafia prosecutors want to book the Innsbruck tower builder.
His lawyer announced that there was no “European arrest warrant” against his client and that Austria had not taken any such measures against Benko.
“Benko – Wanted” is serious for three honorable Swiss people: Peter Fanconi, Ernst Tanner, Dieter Berninghaus.
They all opened doors for the up-and-coming king of the neighboring country to the east, made him socially acceptable, and made money and business possible for him.
Berninghaus gave Benko the globe – for 1 billion, in the end only 800 million. Migros gave, Benko took.
Tanner joined Benko’s Signa empire as an early investor. The big Lindt & Sprüngli praline boss gave the school dropout the “Premium” seal of quality.
The third one was particularly helpful. Peter Fanconi introduced Benko to his Bündner Kantonalbank as an interesting neo-customer. As a result, the staid state bank gave dozens of millions in loans.
Fanconi also invested a few million of his own money in Benko vehicles – once before his bank granted the loan, once after.
And: The top banker was a guest in Benko’s super hotel on Lake Garda – where the Italians have now struck most intensively.
Fanconi is now leaving the big stage – a year earlier than planned. He tries to whitewash Benko-Tolggen with intellectual merits.
As an author of several books. “Small Money – Big Impact” is the title of one that the Graubünden native published together with a second writer.
It’s about the fight against poverty with the help of microcredit – a topic that Fanconi took up early on.
Did he really write the book himself, or did he commission a ghostwriter? The question also arises in “Power to the poor”, a book by Fanconi together with the well-known son of the former Federal Councilor Ernst Brugger and a third party.
And “This is my story”, Fanconi’s most personal work with the subtitle “giving a face to 20 years of impact investing”.
Two weeks ago an email went to Fanconi’s personal media person with the following content: “How much did P Fanconi write himself, how much came from ghostwriters? Who is that?”
The answer came a good 7 hours later. She was as appropriate to the questions as a medicine ball on the golf green. “We are honored by your interest. The books have been available on Amazon for years.”
The request also said this: “How does Power to the poor fit with Patek Philippe for 80K?”
