Nearly €20 million in hidden cash found in Hungary corruption probe

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.

The cash discovery

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 an expensive safe at a secluded location.

The recovered money included 5.07 billion Hungarian forints (€13.3 million, $15.3 million), €2.66 million ($2.9 million) and $1.26 million (€1.08 million). Twelve employees of the Hungarian State Treasury spent eight hours counting the banknotes using five counting machines. Authorities said the seized money had been deposited into an account belonging to the Hungarian state treasury.

The investigation

Sesztak is suspected of accepting more than $37 million (€33 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.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar described the discovery as a turning point in his government's anti-corruption campaign. He wrote on Facebook that the discovery "officially marks the end of the Fidesz-KDNP mafia," adding: "As of today, Viktor Orbán is a proven mafia boss. A fallen mafia boss. And Fidesz is a criminal organization."

Other developments

Viktor Orban's younger brother was detained earlier this week as part of an investigation into suspected human trafficking and influence peddling. Orban has condemned the investigations as political "tyranny" aimed at removing him from Hungary's political landscape, and described his brother's detention as an act of political revenge.

Former central bank governor and economy minister Gyorgy Matolcsy is also under investigation over the alleged misuse of a central bank foundation that received 288 billion forints ($818 million, €787 million) in public assets. He and other former officials under investigation have denied wrongdoing.

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Sources

• politico.eu: Nearly €20m in cash found buried, hidden in Hungary corruption case – POLITICO
• dw.com: Hungary: Millions found in corruption probe into Orban ally
• zaobao.com.sg: Hungary seizes over S$25 million in cash in corruption probe into former PM’s cabinet | Lianhe Zaobao

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.