Hungary recovers nearly $20m buried at farm and in forest in probe into former minister
Hungarian authorities have recovered nearly $20 million in cash as part of an investigation into a former minister from the era of former prime minister Viktor Orban. The money was found hidden in various farm buildings and buried in forest soil. The cash was recovered during two days of searches at secluded locations across the country.
Miklos Sesztak served four years as national development minister during Orban's 16 years in power. He is accused of taking bribes as part of a corruption scheme centred on a state transport company. He has, however, denied any involvement in wrongdoing.
The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH) said in a statement that bundles of banknotes were found at various locations as part of the investigation into Sesztak. The money was hidden in safes, under forest soil, and in buildings and warehouses on farmland and at residential properties.
According to the statement, the recovered cash comprised 5,071,632,000 forints, 2,658,350 euros and 1,257,100 dollars — 19.5 million dollars in total. The agency said the recovered money has been deposited in Hungary's state treasury.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar ousted Orban in a landslide election victory last April. Before the election he had promised a sweeping anti-corruption drive. Commenting on the recovery on Friday, Magyar called it the end of the 'mafia' system.
The NVVH was formed to investigate corruption allegations from the Orban era. Magyar has dubbed the drive 'Operation Purgatory'. Before this year's election he promised the Hungarian people a 'change of system', and since taking office he has moved to reverse many policies of the Orban era.
Orban has long faced allegations of corruption and nepotism. Under his rule Hungary had become a system the European Union (EU) described as an 'electoral autocracy'. His government was accused of steering lucrative state projects to people close to it, though Orban has strongly denied the allegations.
Two former ministers of his government, including Sesztak, and former central bank governor Gyorgy Matolcsy have been in custody since September in separate corruption investigations. They too have denied the allegations against them.
Meanwhile, last Monday Hungarian authorities detained Orban's brother and three others in a human trafficking case. The former prime minister described the move as political revenge. He said: 'The aim of this dirty game is to wipe out the political opposition and establish a one-party system. I am the main target; my younger brother is only a tool.'
