Hungarian authorities have seized approximately $20 million in cash hidden in forests, agricultural buildings, warehouses, and private properties as part of a bribery investigation involving Miklos Sesztak, a former minister in the government of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
According to authorities, the money was discovered during raids conducted at several locations. Some of the cash had been buried in forests, while the remainder was concealed in agricultural buildings, warehouses, and a high-value safe at a remote location.
Finance Minister Andras Karman announced that the seized funds amounted to 5.07 billion Hungarian forints, €2.66 million, and $1.26 million. According to Karman, it took 12 State Treasury employees eight hours to count the money, using five banknote-counting machines.
Sesztak, who served as Minister of National Development in Orban’s government from 2014 to 2018, has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer has not responded to a request for comment regarding the seizure.
The investigation is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign launched by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who ended Orban’s 16-year rule following his victory in the April elections.
Magyar has pledged to investigate corruption allegations and improve relations with the European Union, which had deteriorated during his predecessor’s time in office.
In connection with other corruption investigations, two former ministers from Orban’s government and former Central Bank Governor Gyorgy Matolcsy are also in custody. All have denied the allegations against them.
Authorities have also detained Orban’s brother in a case involving suspected human trafficking. The former prime minister has described these actions as political retaliation.
The anti-corruption campaign, which Magyar has dubbed “Operation Purgatory,” is considered highly important by 70 percent of respondents, according to a poll published by Median on the Hungarian news outlet HVG’s website.
Meanwhile, another Median survey shows that public support for Orban’s Fidesz party had fallen to 16 percent of voters by November.
