Hungary Recovers $20 Million Cash in Probe of Orban Minister
Investigators found the cash during searches tied to a former minister, and 12 treasury workers spent eight hours counting the seized banknotes.
- Hungarian authorities recovered nearly $20 million in a bribery probe targeting Miklos Sesztak, a former minister under Viktor Orban; investigators discovered the cash hidden in forests, farm buildings, warehouses, and a high-value safe.
- Prime Minister Peter Magyar launched an anti-graft drive dubbed "Operation Purgatory" following his April election victory over Orban, pledging to mend ties with the European Union and address years of corruption allegations.
- Twelve State Treasury workers spent eight hours counting the haul using five banknote counters, Finance Minister Andras Karman said; the cache contained 5.07 billion forints , €2.66 million , and $1.26 million.
- According to political scientist Gabor Torok, public support for Fidesz halved to 16% following the revelations; Magyar described the discovery as signaling the end of a "mafia" led by Orban's right-wing party and Christian Democrat allies.
- Separate graft investigations have ensnared two other former ministers and former central bank chief Gyorgy Matolcsy; authorities also detained Orban's brother in a people-smuggling case, which the former leader dismissed as political revenge.
80 Articles
80 Articles
<p>In Hungary, millions buried in the forest were found: investigating corruption under Orban Money was found in forests, warehouses and houses during anti-corruption searches. Ex-Minister Suspected of Bribing Over $37.2 </p>million
Hungarian authorities have seized about $19.5 million in written cash, which has since been buried underground, as part of an investigation against a former minister who served in the government of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Miklos Sestak is accused of receiving bribes for the purchase of used buses at inflated prices – The money was found in searches carried out in several locations, while the former minister has been arrested and detained
The new National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH) found the money buried in forests and hidden in agricultural buildings, warehouses, homes and a safe
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