Court extends detention of former minister Balázs Hankó until 1 February
The Kecskemét District Court has extended the detention of former minister Balázs Hankó and former state secretary Veronika Varga-Bajusz by three months.
Christmas and New Year behind bars: detention of Balázs Hankó extended
According to forbes.hu, the investigating judge at the Kecskemét District Court has, in line with the prosecutor's motion, extended the detention of former minister Balázs Hankó and his associate, former state secretary Veronika Varga-Bajusz, by three months until 1 February. Marianna Bodó, spokesperson for the Bács County Chief Prosecutor's Office, informed 24.hu of the decision.
The prosecution submitted the extension motion this week. According to its reasoning, the conditions for maintaining detention remain unchanged: there is a well-founded suspicion of crimes of substantial factual severity with high prison sentences, and there is also a risk of flight, unlawful interference with the proceedings and recidivism.
Hankó was arrested on 1 October in connection with the NKA case, on suspicion of breach of trust committed in criminal conspiracy causing particularly significant financial loss. According to the prosecution's position, under the direction of the former minister, 17.3 billion forints from the National Cultural Fund were irregularly used in 1,079 instances – partly to finance Fidesz's 2026 election campaign, and partly for private purposes.
Hankó denies committing the crime and characterises the proceedings against him as politically motivated.
Source: Google News HU — Crime (hu)