Hungarian authorities seize 17.7 million euros in corruption case against former minister

Hungarian authorities have seized 17.7 million euros in cash as part of an ongoing corruption investigation into Miklos Sesztak, who served as Minister of Development under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban between 2014 and 2018. The operation was conducted by the National Asset Recovery and Protection Agency (NVVH), an anti-corruption body established by the current government, following a two-day search on Thursday and Friday.

Investigators discovered the illicit funds hidden in diverse locations, including buried in forests, concealed within warehouses and rural buildings, stored in private residences, and secured in a high-value safe in an isolated area. Sesztak is accused of accepting bribes in connection with a state procurement scheme involving the purchase of second-hand buses at inflated prices by Hungary's state transport company. The former minister remains in custody as the legal proceedings continue.