Hungarian authorities recovered nearly $20 million in cash buried in forests and hidden in buildings during an investigation into former Development Minister Miklos Sesztak.
Hungarian authorities have recovered nearly $20 million in hidden cash during a corruption investigation into former National Development Minister Miklos Sesztak, who served under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban between 2014 and 2018.
The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office said investigators found the money during searches in Budapest and three Hungarian counties. The cash was buried in forests, concealed in agricultural buildings, warehouses and residential properties, and stored in high-value safes at secluded locations.
The total amount was 5,071,632,000 forints, 2,658,350 euros, and 1,257,100 US dollars, bringing the combined value to $19.5 million. Twelve Treasury employees spent eight hours counting the banknotes using five counting machines, according to Finance Minister Andras Karman. The cash was deposited into an account belonging to the Hungarian State Treasury.
Sesztak is suspected of accepting more than $37 million in bribes and kickbacks connected to the purchase of overpriced used buses by state-owned transport companies and state construction projects. He was taken into police custody in late September and has denied wrongdoing. His lawyer, Gabor Papp, did not respond to a request for comment.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar won a landslide election victory in April, ending Orban's 16 years in power. Magyar described the recovered cash as a turning point, saying: "This officially marks the end of the Fidesz-KDNP mafia!", referring to Orban's former governing coalition.
Orban has previously denounced the probes targeting his inner circle as "political persecution" aimed at imprisoning him. Sesztak, two other Orban-era ministers, and Orban's brother have been taken into custody in different cases. Orban's brother was detained as part of an investigation into suspected human trafficking and influence peddling, which Orban has described as an act of political revenge.
The seizure is part of a broader anti-corruption drive under Prime Minister Peter Magyar targeting alleged abuses from the Orban era. A Median survey published by HVG found that 70% of respondents considered the anti-corruption campaign "very important," while support for Orban's Fidesz party had fallen to 16% of voters by November.
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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