Six people arrested over scandalous disbursement of cultural foundation funds
The Kecskemét court has ordered all suspects arrested in connection with billion-forint abuses at the National Cultural Foundation to be remanded in custody for thirty days.
Six people arrested over scandalous disbursement of cultural foundation funds
On Thursday, a judge at the Kecskemét District Court ruled that all six individuals arrested in the National Cultural Foundation (NKA) case must be remanded in custody for thirty days. The rulings are not final; the suspects and their legal representatives have appealed, according to the Kecskemét Court. The news was reported by 444.
According to a statement from the Bács-Kiskun county prosecutor's office the previous day, the NAV's southern Great Plain criminal unit is conducting an investigation on suspicion of budget fraud and other offences. Based on the suspected crimes, the decision-making body of the foundation, from December 2024 onwards, circumvented regulations and internal rules, exceeded its authority, and awarded 1,079 grants totalling more than 17 billion forints.
Financial investigators brought in six people suspected of causing serious financial damage through unfaithful management. The court decided on pre-trial detention due to the risk posed by their absence from the courtroom, the possibility of destroying or concealing evidence, and the danger of committing further offences.
According to sources at the portal, those arrested include the director of the National Cultural Support Administrator suspended in May, its office manager, and the chairman of the committee for special programmes. The investigation extended to two further members of the committee: the head of secretariat of the administrative secretary of state at the culture ministry and the deputy head of the minister's office.
Marianna Bodó, spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, told MTI that remand in custody could be extended for up to six months, but this must be reviewed from time to time. The suspects' appeal will be reviewed by the Kecskemét Court.
Source: Google News HU — Crime (hu)