In a high-stakes legal battle, Austrian former property mogul Rene Benko has officially contested his recent conviction for insolvency-related fraud. The court's decision last week included a two-year prison term, prompting Benko's legal team to promptly file an appeal, as announced by his lawyer on Monday.

The charges against Benko originate from a comprehensive investigation into alleged financial misconduct linked to the 2023 collapse of Signa, a real estate giant he once headed. The court in Innsbruck found Benko guilty of transferring 300,000 euros to his mother as a gift, purportedly to shield assets from creditors prior to Signa's insolvency filing.

While Benko faced a guilty verdict on one count, he was cleared on a second fraud charge, a decision now also under appeal by the Cen

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