Hungary corruption probe targets Orban minister after nearly 20 million in cash found buried in forests

Cash recovered in searches

The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office said investigators found the money during two days of searches in Budapest and three Hungarian counties. The searches were linked to Sesztak, who served as national development minister from 2014 to 2018.

Bundles were buried in forests and hidden in agricultural buildings, warehouses and homes. Investigators also found cash in an expensive safe at a secluded location.

Reported amounts and investigation

The recovered sums were listed as 5.07 billion forints, €2.66 million and $1.26 million. The report gives the forint amount as €13.3 million, while its parenthetical conversion for €2.66 million is €2.9 million; the listed euro values total about €17 million, not the stated €17.7 million.

Finance Minister Andras Karman said 12 Hungarian State Treasury employees spent eight hours counting the banknotes with five machines. Authorities said the money was transferred to an account belonging to the state treasury.

Former minister denies wrongdoing

Sesztak is suspected of accepting more than $37 million in bribes and kickbacks. The alleged payments were connected to overpriced used buses bought by state-owned transport companies and state construction projects.

Wider campaign against corruption

Magyar called the recovery a turning point in his government’s effort to address alleged corruption under Orban. His Tisza party won April’s election, ending Orban’s 16-year rule, and Magyar has pledged to improve Hungary’s relations with the European Union.

The new government created an anti-corruption agency with investigative and prosecutorial powers. Other former senior officials are also facing separate inquiries, including former central bank governor and economy minister Gyorgy Matolcsy, who denies wrongdoing.