Budapest Corruption: Former Momentum Politicians Arrested

Hungarian authorities have arrested former Momentum politicians and business figures as part of a widening corruption investigation. The case centers on a businessman who allegedly paid bribes to mayors and local officials in Budapest's 2nd district, including current and former mayors Láng Zsolt and Őrsi Gergely, as well as to district council members.

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The businessman regularly paid bribe money to mayors Láng Zsolt and then Őrsi Gergely at the local government of Budapest's 2nd district, and after his mayorship, also to Láng and district election president Gór Csaba for influencing district local government representatives.

The businessman also reportedly paid continuous bribes to Molnár Zsolt, a former MSZP member of parliament, to leverage his influence over party leaders. Molnár allegedly cited his connections and the supposed redistribution of bribe money when requesting payments.

The investigation has also uncovered alleged corruption in public catering services. The owner and director of a catering company are accused of bribing the previously mentioned local officials to secure contracts for their group of companies. Through the same businessman, the company representatives also allegedly paid money to Pécs political leader Kőhegyi István via Molnár Zsolt for similar reasons.

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Molnár Zsolt also continuously received bribe money from the businessman, to enforce his party leadership influence over local government politicians.

Of the suspects interrogated recently, eight are in custody, and the prosecution has requested their arrest. The court is expected to decide on these measures. Other suspects interrogated are accused of assisting the businessman in providing the funds necessary for the bribes. The key figure in the case is reportedly Z. Zsolt, former owner of Pannonpark Kft., who is cooperating with prosecutors. He faces a potential sentence of five years and ten months if he confesses to charges including budget fraud, economic fraud, and bid-rigging.

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The owner and director of a catering service company, with the help of the same businessman, also bribed the previously mentioned local government leaders to secure the company group's contracts.