Endre Kónya questioned on suspicion of giving false testimony
The man convicted and subsequently pardoned in connection with the Bicske children's home case was questioned again on Friday on suspicion of witness tampering.
Endre Kónya questioned on suspicion of giving false testimony
On Friday morning, a new investigation was launched against Endre Kónya, who became notorious in connection with the Bicske children's home case. Officers of the Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) held him responsible on suspicion of inciting false testimony – according to HVG, citing police information.
The suspect denied having anything to do with the alleged offence, but did not lodge an appeal against the allegation. He is not currently in custody and is free to conduct his defence in the matter.
Investigators visited the man at his home early Friday morning and took him in. According to the BRFK's statement, proceedings began last March due to coercion, but during the investigation suspicion arose that further legal violations may have occurred. In order to investigate this, the authorities began a wide-ranging information-gathering effort: they identified and questioned witnesses, reviewed recorded material, and contacted numerous institutions for data.
The police investigation was initiated by RTL Klub's "Outside the House" programme last March. In the programme, the main figure in the pardon case attempted to convince a previously sexually harassed victim to withdraw her earlier testimony.
Kónya, who was the home's former deputy director, was handed down a final sentence of three years and four months' imprisonment by the court in the summer of 2021. The sentence was imposed for attempted coercion committed as an accessory: he helped conceal the institution's director's paedophile actions by attempting to persuade the underage victims to change their witness statements. Katalin Novák, the country's then head of state, granted him a pardon in spring 2023, after which she was later forced to leave her position.
Source: HVG