Hungarian Authorities Recover $19.5 Million in Cash

Hungarian authorities have recovered approximately $19.5 million in cash during an operation targeting a former minister from Viktor Orbán's government. The money was located in various sites including forested areas, agricultural buildings, warehouses, and residential properties.

The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office conducted searches in Budapest and three Hungarian counties. The operation is part of a criminal case against Miklós Seszták, the former Minister of National Development. He is suspected of receiving over $37.2 million in bribes related to state transport and construction contracts.

The total amount seized includes more than 5 billion forints, along with 2.6 million euros and $1.2 million. State Treasury officials used five counting machines to process the volume of banknotes found during eight hours of work.

The new Hungarian government has been using investigative powers to look into the misuse of public funds. Critics point to the fact that corruption was widespread during Orbán's 16 years in administration. Other recent measures include the detention of the former prime minister's younger brother on suspicion of human trafficking and influence peddling.