Arrest warrant against Benko –
Investigations into Signa construction projects: Waltherpark in Bolzano in focus
Construction speculation in Trentino-South Tyrol: The suspicious people are said to have influenced the authorities and had large amounts of money at their disposal for the purchase of land.
Published today at 8:42 am
The Waltherpark shopping center under construction in Bolzano in March 2024.
Photo: Keystone
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The Italian judicial authorities have Signa founder René Benko targeted and issued an arrest warrant for the ex-real estate mogul. They investigate various real estate projects that the entrepreneur wanted to implement with the help of allegedly disloyal mayors and officials in Trentino-South Tyrol.
Some of the people under investigation are said to have influenced public administration decisions, particularly in the area of construction speculation in Trentino-South Tyrol. Among the suspects is the former mayor of the Trentino municipality of Dro and the former senator Vittorio Fravezzi, who, according to investigators, tried to implement his plans with “threats and intimidation,” according to media reports from Trentino judicial circles.
Large amounts for the purchase of land
The investigation revealed that the suspects had large amounts of money to purchase land for Large-scale projects such as Bolzano’s Waltherpark which was bought by the Scholler Group after the Signa companies went bankrupt, and a hotel in Arco in Trentino. According to the investigators, building renovations or constructions were planned “in open disregard of the rules”.
The investigating public prosecutor, Enrico Borrelli, imposed a one-year ban on seven of the nine people placed under house arrest from practicing their profession or doing business. The mayor of Riva del Garda, Cristina Santi (Lega), has been suspended from her position as city boss.
Sales to private companies
The current mayor of Arco, Alessandro Betta, and the former provincial council member Luca Zeni are also being investigated. Both belong to the Trentino Social Democrats.
The suspects also include the city councilor and former mayoral candidate Trent for the center-right coalition, Andrea Merler, a lawyer and vice president of «Patrimonio del Trentino spa», a company dedicated to the development and realization of new real estate projects for the benefit of various public entities. Among other things, Merler is accused of facilitating the sale of a public property to a private company for an alleged reward of around 10,000 euros.
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