Fallen Austrian real estate tycoon Rene Benko was questioned by Austrian authorities on Tuesday after an arrest warrant was issued in Italy, according to officials. Media reports linked the warrant to a wide-ranging corruption investigation. Benko, once one of Austria's wealthiest individuals, saw his Signa empire collapse in what became the largest insolvency case in the country's history. After being questioned in Innsbruck, he was released, as confirmed by a spokesman for the Austrian prosecutors.

The spokesman confirmed that Benko had been questioned based on the arrest warrant issued in the Italian city of Trento but declined to comment on the reasons for the warrant. Benko's lawyer, Norbert Wess, stated that Benko would continue to cooperate fully with both national and international authorities, as he had done previously, and expressed confidence that any allegations against him would be proven false.

Trento prosecutors declined to confirm or deny to AFP whether a warrant had been issued for Benko. However, media reports suggested that he was linked to a major investigation announced earlier on Tuesday in Trento.

In a statement, Italy’s financial crimes police revealed that Trento prosecutors had issued warrants for the house arrest of nine unnamed individuals, including a mayor, four professionals, three entrepreneurs, and a municipal official. Over 100 searches had been conducted in relation to other people under investigation, including companies and public bodies across Trento, Bolzano, Brescia, Milan, Pavia, Rome, Verona, and abroad.

The investigations suggested the existence of a business group that may have influenced or controlled key public administration initiatives, particularly in the real estate speculation sector in the Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol area, which borders Switzerland and Austria. The entrepreneurs involved were allegedly willing to finance the electoral campaigns of public administrators, later securing preferential treatment, simplified procedures, and concessions for real estate projects. The possible charges include criminal conspiracy, bid rigging, illegal party financing, peddling illicit influence, fraud, corruption, and tax offences.

Signa, Benko’s company, which holds a vast portfolio including New York's iconic Chrysler Building, began insolvency proceedings a year ago.