Aron Orban was taken into custody on suspicion of human trafficking, according to a report shared by Prime Minister Peter Magyar. Police said several people were detained in Budapest and two towns in Pest County.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Hungarian police took Aron Orban, the brother of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, into custody on Monday on suspicion of human trafficking, according to a press report shared by Prime Minister Peter Magyar.
“According to press reports, Viktor Orban’s brother, Aron Orban, has been taken into custody on suspicion of human trafficking,” Magyar wrote on Facebook.
The original report comes from Kontroll, a news site owned by Magyar’s brother Marton Magyar.
Police said “several people have been taken into custody” in Budapest and in two towns in the surrounding Pest County in an operation carried out in connection with human trafficking.
“Searches are currently under way at the homes of those under investigation,” the statement said.
“We expect to provide further updates this afternoon regarding the details of the offences and the investigative measures carried out today,” it added.
Magyar, a pro-EU conservative, won a landslide election victory in April to end 16 years in power for Orban, promising to investigate alleged corruption and abuse of office during his rival’s rule.
Former premier Orban called the detention a “dirty game,” accusing the government of trying to eliminate its political opponents.
“I am the target; my brother is merely a tool,” he wrote on Facebook.
Like other members of the Orban family, Aron Orban built several successful business ventures during his brother’s time in power.
Last year, investigative journalists linked one of his companies to an alleged visa facilitation scheme that offered preferential access to Hungarian work visas for foreigners.
The joint operation was carried out by the National Bureau of Investigation (NNI) and the National Asset Recovery and Protection Agency (NVVH), an anti-graft body with sweeping powers established as part of Magyar’s accountability drive.
In September, NVVH took over four investigations, including one related to influence-peddling that could involve Aron Orban, according to local media.
That case centres on an illicit group that allegedly promised to bypass standard administrative procedures to grant visas to foreign nationals in exchange for money.
The detention is part of several investigations that have gained momentum since Orban lost power. Three former ministers are in custody, including former central bank governor Gyorgy Matolcsy, whom Orban once called his “right-hand” man.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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