What’s happening at Hungary’s Semmelweis University? Two senior staff dismissed with immediate effect
The Budapest Police Headquarters has launched an investigation into suspected fraud at Semmelweis University, the force confirmed following press reports. The police are acting on a criminal complaint, but no one has been questioned as a suspect so far. Up to twenty people may be involved in the case, and authorities are continuously hearing them as witnesses.
The rector filed the complaint: two managers dismissed
According to Telex, the procedure was initiated by the university’s rector, Béla Merkely, who terminated the employment of two senior officials of the Student Services Directorate (HSZI) with immediate effect on 13 October. The university said there was a well-founded suspicion of economic misconduct linked to their management roles and previous activities within the student union.
In the meantime, the dismissed managers’ names and photos have disappeared from the HSZI website, which currently does not list a director at all. Both individuals had close ties to the student union: the former director served as president of the organisation for three years, while his deputy worked as a vice-president.
Lawyer of the dismissed director: no criminal proceedings against him
The dismissed director’s lawyer, Zsolt Mórotz, told Telex that his client is not a suspect and is not currently facing any criminal proceedings. He stressed that in his previous positions, his client had no financial countersigning rights or authority to make financial commitments. Therefore, in his view, “there is no economic crime that could even be considered” in relation to his client.
Nevertheless, Semmelweis University has launched disciplinary proceedings against the individual – not because of his former leadership position, but due to his current student status. According to the lawyer, it remains unclear on what grounds and what evidence the university is basing the procedure on. His client was heard by the disciplinary committee on 11 November, but received no meaningful information there either, nor was he given the minutes of the hearing.
A sudden dismissal and disappearing professional profiles
Mórotz said the termination of employment was not by mutual agreement; the university simply announced its decision. His client, he added, was taken by surprise.
The former director had previously received several university honours, including the Pro Universitate Award twice and the Pro Juventute Award. His public professional profiles have since disappeared: his Facebook page is no longer available, and his former website has been almost entirely wiped. According to the lawyer, these platforms were linked to positions his client no longer holds.
Little information about the investigation
Neither the university nor the police have disclosed details about the exact nature of the suspected misconduct or the period under investigation. The police inquiry is still ongoing.
Fraud. Pfft! Fraud, schmraud. As we heard yesterday, this institution is oh-so “sustainable”! Surely that’s what counts!