René Benko's rise and fall: The most important dates - a chronology

On July 15 , the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office (WKStA) in Vienna filed charges against Benko for the first time . The judicial authority accuses Benko of having stashed assets to the detriment of creditors during his insolvency as a sole proprietor. Specifically, the prosecutor's office accuses him of having given €300,000 to relatives "under the impression of increasing financial difficulties and the imminent opening of bankruptcy proceedings." The offense under Austrian law is fraudulent bankruptcy. The total damages determined in these proceedings amount to €660,000. Benko faces up to ten years in prison.