Prosecutors charge 12 more suspects in Budapest corruption case

Hungarian prosecutors have expanded a significant corruption investigation, announcing charges against twelve new suspects in connection with bribery schemes involving municipal officials in Budapest.

The ongoing probe focuses on allegations that a businessman regularly paid bribes to mayors and local council members in Budapest's II district. These payments were allegedly made to secure favorable treatment in public tenders and to influence decisions. The businessman is also accused of paying former Mayor Zsolt Láng and district election chairman Csaba Gór after their terms ended.

Further allegations suggest that the businessman facilitated bribery payments to MSZP parliamentary representative Zsolt Molnár, who is accused of leveraging his party leadership influence over municipal politicians. Molnár reportedly cited his connections and the alleged redistribution of bribe money as reasons for these payments.

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The businessman allegedly continuously paid corruption money to Zsolt Molnár, then an MSZP Member of Parliament, for exercising party leadership influence over municipal politicians.

The investigation also involves a catering services company group, whose owners and executives are accused of bribing the same municipal leaders to secure contracts. These payments were allegedly made through the businessman involved in the broader scheme. Additionally, István Kőhegyi, a prominent politician in Pécs, is implicated, with payments allegedly channeled through Molnár.

Of the recently interrogated suspects, eight are currently in custody, and prosecutors have requested pre-trial detention. The court is expected to rule on these requests soon. The remaining suspects are accused of assisting the primary businessman in providing funds for the bribery operations. Reports suggest the unnamed businessman is Z. Zsolt, former owner of Pannonpark Kft., who faces charges including budget fraud and economic fraud.

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Eight of the suspects interrogated in recent days are in custody, and the prosecution has requested their detention; the court will decide on coercive measures today.