Former Socialist official arrested accused of forgery

(MTI) – Gabor Simon, a former Socialist official and lawmaker, has been arrested on charges of forgery, the Central Investigating Chief Prosecutor’s Office said on Monday.

Spokesman Imre Keresztes said Simon was taken into custody today after questioning. He is suspected of having asked a friend to open a bank account in his name with a Hungarian bank, using a forged passport from a south African country. The evidence strongly suggests Simon was an accessory to forgery, the investigating prosecutor’s statement said.

Additionally, Simon submitted documents to parliament’s immunity committee that did not include his undeclared assets.

Simon quit his post as the party’s deputy leader and gave up his seat in parliament in February, after reports that he had undeclared assets worth 240 million forints (EUR 780,000) held on an Austrian bank account.

Keresztes said the prosecutor’s office had decided to take Simon into custody because it is assumed that he would attempt to influence witnesses and destroy, forge or hide documents to prevent or endanger the success of the investigation. Additionally, it is assumed that he would commit further crimes, Keresztes said.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters