A Budapest Central District Court has ordered the pre-trial detention of a man for one month in a final ruling after he fled from police in a car. Proceedings have been initiated against him on suspicion of violence against a public official, the Metropolitan Court told MTI on Monday. RTL News on Sunday broadcast footage showing police officers apprehending a man before striking and kicking him.
The man almost killed three police officers
According to the statement, a motorcycle patrol attempted to stop the suspect on the morning of 10 June after he was seen driving unlawfully in a bus lane on Andrássy Avenue, the Hungarian news agency wrote.
The accused, however, sped away, as he did not possess a valid driving licence and had been banned from driving. Police gave chase, during which he committed multiple traffic offences. When he was eventually forced to stop, he reversed, knocking over two police motorcycles, before ramming a police car at high speed. Two officers managed to jump from the front seats before the collision, but a third officer in the rear was unable to exit the vehicle in time and suffered injuries expected to heal within eight days.
If proven, the man’s actions may constitute the felony offences of violence against a public official and endangering road users, as well as the misdemeanour of driving while disqualified. Prosecutors sought his detention on the grounds of flight risk, the possibility of absconding, and the likelihood of reoffending.
No lawful source of income
Available information indicates that the suspect does not reside at his registered address and may be difficult to summon. He has no declared employment or lawful source of income, has a criminal record, and is already subject to multiple ongoing criminal proceedings.
The court noted that neither his previous convictions nor the proceedings currently pending against him had deterred him from allegedly committing further offences. Despite lacking a driving licence and having been repeatedly banned from driving, he had been travelling by car to a settlement nearly 200 kilometres from Budapest prior to his arrest, and the risk of reoffending in his case is deemed substantial.
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Viral footage shows police officers beating him brutally
RTL News on Sunday broadcast footage showing police officers apprehending a man before striking and kicking him; he had been pursued in Budapest for drink-driving and other offences.
In response to an enquiry from MTI, the Central Investigative Prosecutor’s Office said that, in connection with the suspect’s arrest, allegations of ill-treatment in an official procedure had arisen. The Budapest Investigative Prosecutor’s Office is examining the matter in separate proceedings, which remain at an early stage. No further details were provided.
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