The court’s decision closes the door on Benko’s final appeal regarding the illicit gift, which prosecutors successfully argued was a calculated move to shield assets from creditors in late 2023. While the prison term stands, the legal battle continues on a separate front: the Supreme Court overturned a previous acquittal regarding €360,000 in rental and housing payments linked to a property in Innsbruck, mandating a retrial on those specific charges.

Benko, 49, maintains his innocence. The collapse of his Signa group remains the largest bankruptcy in Austrian history, leaving a trail of losses across Europe. At its height, the company held stakes in iconic assets ranging from Venice’s luxury hotels to the Chrysler Building in New York, alongside major retail chains like Selfridges and Globus. The proceedings move forward as the fallout from Signa’s disintegration continues to impact investors across Germany and Switzerland.