Property Billionaire Benko Cleared in Austrian Bribery Probe

Billionaire Rene Benko was among some of Austria’s most prominent real-estate investors cleared of bribery by a court in Vienna following a probe into alleged donations to a charity co-run by a municipal official.

The Vienna regional criminal court couldn’t find proof of an abuse of official authority, it said in an emailed statement. The allegations refer to donations to a charity building schools in Africa, which the city councilor initiated.

Anti-corruption prosecutors had claimed the donations were illicit and aimed at influencing municipal decisions. Prosecutors said they will challenge the verdict.

READ: Benko Faces Bribery Probe in Test for ...