Prosecutor holds talks with OLAF chief

Budapest (MTI) – Hungary’s public prosecution service is cooperating with the European anti-fraud office (OLAF) to pursue crimes that harm the European Union’s financial interests, Péter Polt, the chief prosecutor, assured OLAF head Giovanni Kessler at a meeting in Budapest on Thursday.

Talks focused on ongoing cases and legal measures aimed at making criminal investigations more effective in cases of fraud that hurt the EU’s financial interests, Polt’s office said in a statement.

At the meeting, Kessler said OLAF maintained good relations with Hungarian prosecutors, working in close cooperation on important matters, the statement said.

Kessler said OLAF would continue to rely on Polt’s support in uncovering and launching legal procedures in corruption cases, ensuring that the culprits are brought to justice.

Polt said Hungarian prosecutors had launched criminal investigations in all cases identified by OLAF. In cases where an investigation was ongoing, it has attached OLAF’s related recommendations, he added. So far, charges were brought in five cases, a penalty was binding in one case. Investigations are under way in 23 cases, Polt said.

During the day, Economy Minister Mihály Varga and Justice Minister László Trócsányi also met the OLAF chief to discuss corruption and irregularities surrounding the construction of Budapest’s fourth metro line, the economy and justice ministries said in a joint statement. OLAF’s report shows the effectiveness of the anti-fraud office’s work, they said, adding that as soon as the Hungarian government received OLAF’s report, it raised criminal charges with the public prosecutor on Jan. 19.

Photo: Daily News Hungary

Source: MTI