€17.7 million found hidden by Orbán's former minister in Hungary
Hungarian authorities have discovered €17.7 million buried and concealed by Miklós Seszták, a former minister accused of corruption. The money was found in forests, buildings and safe deposit boxes during investigations by the new conservative government.
Currency discovery in anti-corruption investigation
According to rtve.es, Hungarian authorities found €17.7 million hidden in various locations across the country during an investigation into alleged corruption against Miklós Seszták, former minister of National Development in Viktor Orbán's government. The National Office for Asset Recovery and Protection (NVVH) located the money buried in forests and concealed in agricultural buildings, warehouses, dwellings and a safe deposit box.
The money was distributed in dollars, euros and forints. Seszták, who held the post between 2014 and 2018, is accused of having received bribes worth approximately €33 million in a scheme linked to the state-owned transport company Volánbusz. He has been in pre-trial detention since late September.
Political context and new investigations
Seszták is one of three former ministers from Orbán's government detained on suspicion of corruption in recent weeks. The current prime minister, Péter Magyar, of the Conservative Party, defeated Orbán in the April elections and has launched investigations into corruption and abuse of power during his predecessor's sixteen years in government.
Among those detained is György Matolcsy, former minister of Economy and former governor of the Central Bank, considered Orbán's "right-hand man". Aron Orbán, the former prime minister's younger brother, was also detained in an alleged human trafficking scheme.
Magyar declared on social media that the discovery "officially ends the Fidesz-KDNP mafia", referring to the parties that governed Hungary between 2010 and 2024. The recovered funds have been deposited in the state treasury. Seszták was a deputy of the KDNP, Fidesz's satellite party.
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)