Hungary Corruption Probe Finds €17.7 Million in Cash Linked to Former Minister

In the course of the investigations, cash totalling 17.7 million euros was seized. The money had been hidden, buried and stashed in a wide variety of locations

Anti-corruption investigation: Hungarian authorities find 17.7 million euros in cash

In Hungary, the authorities have continued their crackdown on alleged corruption under the former Prime Minister Orban.

According to a statements, the Anti-Corruption Authority was investigating the former Minister for National Development, Sesztak, on allegations of bribery. It reported that cash worth around 17.7 million euros had been seized. This had reportedly been discovered hidden in warehouses or buried in woods. Prime Minister Magyar declared that, as of today, Orban was a deposed mafia boss.

He also described the former Prime Minister’s party, Fidesz, as a criminal organisation.

Since Magyar took office, the Hungarian authorities have been taking action against misconduct by his predecessors. This week, a court ordered the remand in custody of Orbán’s brother on charges of human trafficking. Previously, the former head of the central bank, Matolcsy, had been arrested on charges of economic fraud.

Budapest: The NVVH, Hungary’s newly established anti-corruption authority, has uncovered millions in hidden cash during investigations into a former minister in the government of ex-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (2010–26). As part of the criminal proceedings against Miklós Szeszák, searches were carried out at several locations, the NVVH stated on Friday. During these searches, investigators found large quantities of cash in various currencies, totalling 17.7 million euros.

They discovered the money “buried in woods, hidden in farm buildings, warehouses and residential properties, as well as in high-security safes in remote locations”. It has now been paid into an account held by the Hungarian Treasury, the authority added. Sesztak held the post of Minister for National Development between 2014 and 2018. He is alleged to have accepted bribes.

Francis Tawiah (Duisburg, Germany)