Hungarian corruption probe uncovers €17.6 million in cash, some buried in forests
Hungarian investigators searching in a corruption case against former minister Miklós Seszták found cash worth about €17.6 million. His lawyer stresses that authorities have not said the money belongs to him.
Investigators in Hungary have found cash worth about €17.6 million in a corruption probe targeting Miklós Seszták, a former national development minister in Viktor Orbán's government. The hiding places were uncovered during searches at several locations across the country on 12 and 13 November. The discovery has set off a fresh political scandal, according to the German newspaper Bild and the news agency Reuters.
Where the money was found
The searches were carried out by Hungary's National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH). Some of the cash was buried in forests, some was hidden in farm buildings, warehouses and a residential property, and more was in an expensive safe at a remote location.
In total, investigators found 5.07 billion Hungarian forints, €2.66 million and US$1.26 million. Converted into a single currency, the sum comes to roughly €17.6 million. Reuters reported that 12 State Treasury employees with five counting machines worked for eight hours.
Suspicions and defence
Investigators suspect that between 2015 and 2018 Seszták and an official of another state company may have received more than 11 billion forints (about €34 million) in illegal payments linked to contracts of a state bus transport company. The former minister was detained in late September and remains in custody. He denies wrongdoing.
Seszták's lawyer, Gábor Pap, told the Hungarian portal Telex that the authorities have not stated that the money belongs directly to his client. There are other suspects in the case.
Political context
Hungary's current prime minister, Péter Magyar, who ended Orbán's 16-year rule in the April elections, has cited the find as proof of his fight against alleged corruption under the previous government. On social media he called Orbán a toppled mafia boss; this is a political insult by the prime minister, not a court finding.
Viktor Orbán's younger brother Áron Orbán was also detained in November on suspicion in a human trafficking and influence peddling case. Viktor Orbán rejects the accusations and calls the current government's actions political retribution.
The cash has been placed in the custody of the State Treasury. Investigators still have to establish its origin, its owners and any link to criminally obtained funds.
