Suspect released on bail in Óbuda bribery case
Péter Puskás, former deputy mayor of Óbuda, was released from detention, although the pre-trial detention of seven other suspects – including politicians and businesspeople – was extended.
Suspect released on bail in Óbuda bribery case
Péter Puskás, the former deputy mayor of Budapest's 3rd district, left prison after the Central Investigation Prosecutor's Office (KNYF) withdrew the personal liberty restriction measure against him. According to spokeswoman Katalin Kovács, his detention was terminated because the special circumstances originally established no longer exist.
In the same proceedings, however, the investigating authority requested that the court extend the pre-trial detention of seven other defendants by three months. Those remaining behind bars include Gergely Őrsi, the current mayor of the 2nd district, and Zsolt Láng, who previously held the same position. Also involved are Zsolt Molnár, a former Socialist parliamentary representative, Tünde Szkaliczki and Károly Matisz, municipal representatives from the Momentum party, plus two businesspeople.
The Central District Court of Buda ruled in early June, on the 4th, that all eight suspects would be held in custody for thirty days. This order was later approved by the Budapest second-instance court.
According to the investigation, the owner of a company engaged in green-space maintenance paid municipal decision-makers over more than a decade, across different electoral cycles and regardless of party affiliation. The total amount of bribes exceeded 2 billion forint.
According to the suspicion, the company executive initially transferred regular amounts to Péter Puskás, which he shared with Socialist Gergő Czeglédy, divided 70–30 per cent according to the agreement. After a change of power at the municipal authority, the proportions reversed. Later, the contractor also gave money to Tünde Szkaliczki so that criticism of the park maintenance agreement would cease. Károly Matisz also participated in this as an intermediary.
In the other district, the 2nd district, Fidesz politician Zsolt Láng and later Mayor Gergely Őrsi regularly received illegal payments. Even after Láng lost his office, payments continued to him, and Csaba Gór, the district's Fidesz chairman, similarly benefited.
Zsolt Molnár, the former parliamentary representative, received continuous payments because his party's influence over the municipal politicians was used. On another thread, the owner and manager of a public catering company also gave bribes to the same municipal leaders to retain contracts. István Kőhegyi, a former Socialist politician, also received such payments through Zsolt Molnár.
Source: 24.hu
Source: 24.hu