Hungarian investigators have uncovered billions of forints in cash buried in forests, concealed inside buildings and stored in a hidden safe during a corruption investigation involving Miklós Seszták, a former minister in Viktor Orbán’s government. The discovery, accompanied by remarkable photographs and video footage, has triggered political reactions across Hungary.
Billions in cash discovered in the Miklós Seszták investigation
According to 24.hu, investigators from Hungary’s National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH) carried out coordinated searches on 12 and 13 November in Budapest and three counties: Pest, Békés and Nógrád.
The operation uncovered extraordinary quantities of cash hidden in several locations. Some bundles had been buried underground in forests, while others were discovered in agricultural buildings, warehouses, a residential property and a valuable safe concealed in a secluded location.
The authorities reported finding:
- HUF 5,071,632,000 (approximately EUR 13 million)
- EUR 2,658,350
- USD 1,257,100
Taken together, the different currencies represent roughly EUR 16.7 million, depending on exchange rates.
The NVVH confirmed that the recovered cash was deposited with the Hungarian State Treasury on Friday, 13 November.
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Video shows investigators digging up hidden cash
The discovery became even more striking when the NVVH released footage documenting the searches.
The authority published a video showing investigators recovering buried money and handling large quantities of cash.
The agency praised its employees for digging in forests during cold November rain, working for hours inside unheated warehouses and remaining on duty during the lengthy counting process.
According to Finance Minister András Kármán, 12 Treasury employees spent eight hours counting the recovered money using five counting machines.
The images have attracted considerable attention, highlighting the scale of the discoveries in an investigation involving a former senior government official.
What is the former Orbán minister suspected of?
Miklós Seszták served as Hungary’s minister of national development between June 2014 and May 2018 under Viktor Orbán. His responsibilities included important areas of infrastructure and state-owned assets.
The ongoing criminal investigation concerns alleged corruption during that period.
According to prosecutors, Seszták and Norbert Szivek, the former chief executive of Hungarian National Asset Management (MNV), allegedly received more than HUF 11 billion (approximately EUR 28 million) in unlawful benefits between 2015 and 2018.
The alleged payments reportedly came through an intermediary connected to companies doing business with Volánbusz, Hungary’s state-owned bus operator.
Prosecutors have outlined suspected bribery offences involving public officials and alleged organised criminal activity. Szivek and businessman Dániel Jellinek were previously arrested in connection with the case, with Jellinek subsequently placed under house arrest in October.
The allegations remain subject to criminal proceedings. The discovery of hidden cash does not, by itself, establish that Seszták owned the money or was responsible for concealing it.
Fidesz responds to the discovery involving Orbán’s former minister
The discovery also prompted a response from Fidesz, the party led by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
According to 24.hu, Fidesz issued a brief statement expressing hope that the money shown in the photographs had no connection to Seszták.
The party emphasised that elected representatives must respect the law and stated that Fidesz-KDNP could not associate itself with anyone who failed to comply with legal requirements.
The statement came amid growing scrutiny of former government officials facing criminal investigations.
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Political analyst: The buried billions could seriously damage Fidesz
Political analyst Gábor Török offered a particularly critical assessment of the affair.
As reported by HVG, Török argued that the images of buried and concealed billions could undermine Fidesz’s political narrative.
He specifically questioned the continued portrayal of former government ministers as impeccable public officials and of those facing prosecution as political prisoners.
Török suggested that Fidesz politicians would need to acknowledge what had happened during their period in government rather than dismiss the investigations as politically motivated.
His comments followed statements attributed to Orbán defending the integrity of his former ministers.
What happens next in the Seszták investigation?
The investigation now faces important questions about the origin, ownership and intended use of the recovered cash.
Authorities have publicly confirmed the discovery and transfer of the money to the State Treasury, but establishing its connection to the alleged bribery scheme will require further evidence.
For Hungary, the case is significant not only because of the enormous sums involved but also because of Seszták’s former position in government. The proceedings could provide further insight into allegations surrounding public procurement, state-owned companies and political accountability during the Orbán administration.
The criminal investigation is ongoing, and any determination of individual guilt remains a matter for the courts.
