A scandal of unprecedented proportions has shaken South Tyrol and the neighboring Trentino: the Trento public prosecutor's office is investigating a total of 77 people for alleged corruption, construction speculation and criminal activities. The network of suspects includes prominent entrepreneurs, officials and public administrators. Josef Gostner, the head of the SkyAlps airline, and René Benko, one of Europe's best-known real estate investors, are two of the most prominent names in the spotlight of the judiciary.
The investigations cast a dark light on a network that has allegedly grown over the years and is said to have infiltrated the construction industry and public administration in South Tyrol and Trentino. According to the Trento public prosecutor's office, the group's influence reached the highest levels of decision-making. Corruption and illegal agreements are said to have played a central role in the implementation of major projects.
A central point of the allegations concerns René Benko, who was identified as the head of a criminal organization. Together with Heinz Peter Hager, a tax consultant from Bolzano and CEO of the Laura Private Foundation named after Benko's daughter, and Paolo Signoretti from Rovereto, Benko is said to have pushed through property deals and construction projects, some of which openly violated applicable regulations.
The projects in focus include the prestigious WaltherPark and Gries Village in South Tyrol, as well as the Cattoi site and a former hotel in Arco in Trentino. Despite numerous irregularities discovered by "honest officials", the group obtained the necessary permits through manipulation and pressure.
Airport expansion under suspicion
Another element of the scandal concerns Bolzano Airport, whose expansion is also the subject of investigations. Josef Gostner, head of the SkyAlps airline, is said to have made an agreement with Paolo Signoretti of Heliopolis AG to manipulate the inspections of the Italian civil aviation authority ENAC. Specifically, it is alleged that the actual groundwater level was concealed in order to obtain approval for the runway extension.
insider trading and private enrichment
In addition to the corruption allegations in connection with construction projects, insider trading and private enrichment are also being investigated. Gostner is accused of passing on confidential information as managing director of Alerion Clean Power to his niece Manuela Gostner and his ex-wife Karoline Fink, both of whom were shareholders in the company. This information related to a planned capital increase from which those affected could benefit. Other family members, including his sons Alexander and Tobias and his brother Ernst, are also being investigated by the public prosecutor's office.
Prominent names in focus
The involvement of such prominent names as René Benko and Josef Gostner makes the scandal particularly explosive. Benko is known throughout Europe as a real estate mogul and is behind billion-dollar projects such as the department store chain Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof. Gostner, on the other hand, has pushed forward the expansion of regional aviation as head of SkyAlps. The accusation that both of them enriched themselves illegally and manipulated public structures hits the region hard.
Reactions and outlook
The revelations have triggered a wave of outrage in South Tyrol and Trentino. Politicians and institutions are calling for a comprehensive investigation. It remains to be seen what legal consequences the investigations will have and to what extent the alleged criminal networks can be dismantled or whether the allegations can be refuted. The presumption of innocence applies.
The scandal shows how deeply corruption can penetrate the structures of business and administration. For the regions affected, not only trust in politics but also the reputation of their economy is at stake.
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