Hungarian police issues international alert after couple flees child abuse charges
The testimony of a ten-year-old boy brought to light a police case that has now led to an international manhunt and widespread social outrage in Hungary. For the first time in a long time, the boy has spoken about what he experienced with his mother and her partner, a story that raised suspicions of serious sexual abuse.
The authorities immediately launched an investigation and formally charged the child’s close relative and his partner. However, before the preliminary hearing of the case, the defendants disappeared, and the Hungarian court issued European and international arrest warrants for them. At this stage of the investigation, the couple are believed to have fled abroad and police are monitoring their online activities.
According to the information available, the woman and her partner first engaged in sexual acts only in the presence of the child, and then, over time, they involved the child in these activities. The boy remained silent for years, possibly out of fear or shame, but eventually turned to his relatives, who made the necessary report. The police also appointed a psychological expert, who found the child’s testimony credible and confirmed that the traumas suffered were real and well-founded.
Who are at the centre of the charges?
The main accused is a 44-year-old woman, Mónika Bősze, who lived in Szekszárd, while her partner, Gábor Tamás Gulyás, 47, is from Pásztó in Nógrád county. The accusation is that they committed sexual abuse against her young son or a close relative, and that they did so together. The incident allegedly took place in the summer of 2021, but the victim only broke the silence years later.
According to Blikk, the couple were due to appear in a pre-trial hearing in April this year, but disappeared without a trace. The police were unable to find them at their registered address and issued first a national, then a European and finally an international wanted notice. It is suspected that they fled abroad, probably by car, as they are no longer allowed to board planes, as their names are on all major databases. They remain active on social media, which may help but also complicate the investigation.
One of the most interesting aspects of the investigation is that the fugitives use their own social media sites, sometimes posting as if they were on a normal holiday. Mónika Bősze even celebrated her birthday publicly online at Easter, while Gábor Gulyás recently announced his move to Spain. However, experts warn that such activity could be misleading, as police regularly monitor the online presence of fugitives.
Technology at the service of investigations
In modern investigations, social media are not only a source of information, but also a tracking tool. Experts can pinpoint who is using a profile and from where, based on IP addresses, server connections and digital footprints. This is particularly useful for catching criminals in hiding, who often reveal their whereabouts themselves, even if not intentionally.
Authorities say the pair are on the run in an amateurish way: they have no thought-out strategy, they have not hired legal representation, they don’t even look like professional criminals. There are serious limitations to their escape: they cannot use their names in official dealings, rent an apartment or a car, or travel by plane, and it is becoming increasingly expensive for them to maintain their daily lives. Experts say they could be caught by the authorities in a matter of weeks.
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