Ádám Matolcsy, the son of former Hungarian National Bank (Magyar Nemzeti Bank, MNB) governor György Matolcsy, is now being sought by specialised police fugitive-hunting units amid an investigation into alleged economic fraud and corruption linked to the central bank’s foundations. An international and European arrest warrant has been issued for him and his associate, György Stofa.
An elite group is on the hunt for Matolcsy
Hungarian police have transferred the search for the two men to the National Bureau of Investigation (Nemzeti Nyomozóiroda, NNI), which operates within the Rapid Response Police. According to news outlet Telex, the case may have been assigned to the NNI’s targeted fugitive-hunting division, commonly known as the police’s bounty hunters.
This shows that locating and apprehending the suspects has become a priority for the authorities. Matolcsy and Stofa were initially placed on Hungary’s wanted list on 21 October. European and international arrest warrants followed on 27 October. Neither man has reportedly contacted the authorities, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
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Specialised units tasked with tracking fugitives abroad
The NNI’s fugitive-hunting officers specialise in locating individuals who deliberately evade law enforcement, often by travelling abroad, obtaining false documents or attempting to establish new identities.
The unit has a record of high-profile arrests, including the capture of Mária Dobrai, better known as Broker Marcsi, in Belize in 2016. It has also helped bring notorious Hungarian fugitive András Lakatos, known as Kisbandi, back to the country.
The officers work closely with foreign law enforcement agencies to find the suspects involved in the central bank scandal, exchanging intelligence to identify and apprehend suspects who may be hiding overseas. According to Telex, several investigators may now be working on the Matolcsy and Stofa cases simultaneously.
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Investigation focuses on central bank foundation assets
The investigation concerns alleged financial misconduct involving the MNB’s PADME foundation and the management of its assets. Prosecutors suspect that a controversial securities-lending arrangement involving companies connected to the foundation was designed to transfer control over its wealth to business interests linked to György Matolcsy and his son after the former governor’s departure from office.
György Matolcsy, who led the central bank from 2013 to 2025, was detained on 21 October alongside two associates, former company executive Mihály Valkó and lawyer Tamás Sándor. A court ordered their pre-trial detention for one month on 23 October, although the ruling was not final at the time of reporting, as the defendants appealed. The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against Ádám Matolcsy and György Stofa have not been proven in court.
