Chief Prosecutor responds to gold convoy case ten minutes before deadline
Chief Prosecutor Gábor Bálint Nagy responded in a statement to the Prime Minister's request and emphasised that the prosecution service is independent and the government cannot issue it orders.
Chief Prosecutor responds to gold convoy case ten minutes before deadline
Chief Prosecutor Gábor Bálint Nagy sent a statement merely ten minutes before the 3 p.m. deadline, in which he responded to Prime Minister Péter Magyar's request in the gold convoy case – reported by HVG.
The head of government had issued a message to the prosecution that morning at noon, at the conclusion of his visit to the Uzsoki Street Hospital: he expected a report on the status of the investigation by 3 p.m. Magyar stated that if he did not receive a response, he would himself publish important information.
According to the document from the Chief Prosecutor's Office, the investigative authority is independent and the government cannot direct it. The prosecution service has already issued several communications, which can be found on their website.
The investigation consists of two separate proceedings. One is ongoing on suspicion of money laundering, which is being investigated by the NAV on the basis of a report from the Constitutional Defence Bureau. The other investigates potential legal violations during the arrest; this falls within the jurisdiction of the prosecution service.
According to the Chief Prosecutor's expert opinion, there is well-founded suspicion of a criminal offence in relation to certain high-ranking individuals, but the investigating prosecution wishes to carry out procedural acts in a different order. Gábor Bálint Nagy has instructed his subordinates in writing to investigate every aspect of the case, regardless of whom and which organisations it involves.
According to the statement, substantive results are expected soon, on which detailed information will be provided. For now, it is certain that the investigating prosecution is taking steps to conduct suspect interrogations, and investigative tactics cannot be influenced by political considerations.
The TEK arrested seven Ukrainian nationals on 5 March and seized more than 27 billion forints' worth of gold and currency in their vans. The shipment was being transported from Austria to Ukraine. The NAV also launched an internal investigation into the case.
Source: HVG