Hungary seizes nearly $20 million in probe linked to former minister

Hungarian authorities have seized nearly $20 million in cash during a criminal investigation involving former development minister Miklós Seszták, much of it hidden in forests, farm buildings and warehouses, ERR reported.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar said authorities had found more than $18 million across the country, concealed by allies of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office said it found and confiscated more than six billion forints in buried or otherwise hidden cash during operations on Friday and Saturday. The money was valued at about $19.5 million.

The searches were part of an investigation into Seszták, who served as national development minister from 2014 to 2018. He was first elected to parliament in 2010 and now represents the far-right Christian Democratic People’s Party.

The operation followed Magyar’s landslide election victory in April. He came to power promising reforms, a fight against corruption and closer ties with the European Union, ending Orbán’s 16-year rule. Orbán’s brother was detained days before the cash was found in a separate human-smuggling investigation.