Five suspects in National Cultural Fund abuse case remanded in custody
Kecskemét court has ordered the detention of five people suspected in connection with finances at the National Cultural Fund.
Five suspects in National Cultural Fund abuse case remanded in custody
Kecskemét court has ordered one month's detention for five people suspected in connection with finances at the National Cultural Fund (NKA) – according to Telex.
Among those now behind bars are former deputy chair of the NKA, Balázs Bús, and Attila Ughy, an adviser at Lechner Knowledge Centre, who previously led a district municipality in the capital in the colours of the ruling party. Held together with them are two further members of the Interim College of Prominent Cultural Programmes, as well as the head and cabinet chief of the National Cultural Support Administrator.
All detainees have appealed against the decision, meaning it is not yet final.
The case was brought to public attention in spring by an actor-activist who revealed that the state funding body had transferred billions to individuals and organisations linked to the government side. Data published on the NKA website showed that creators close to Fidesz had received disproportionately large sums. For example, the official photographer of a violinist received 500 million forints in support.
The head of the cultural ministry, Zoltán Tarr, halted the fund's payouts in May. According to the suspicion, the figures involved in the scandal referred to part of the budget allocated for ministerial discretionary decisions as a "swimming pool", comparing it to a Sicilian organisation.
Balázs Hankó, who directed the cultural ministry in the previous government cycle, issued a statement in support of his detained staff members. In his view, they acted in good faith, and their aim was to support culture.
Source: Telex