The police have launched an investigation into the acquisition of plastic toy motorbikes by the previous government, the Budapest police (BRFK) said at MTI’s inquiry on Monday.

Vilmos Kátai-Németh, the minister of social relations and family affairs earlier filed a criminal complaint against the former cultural ministry for purchasing the toys, aimed for toddlers and small children, “at triple price” last year as part of a communications campaign by the previous government.

The toys, sold on the market between 5,000-6,000 forints (EUR 14-17), were supplied to the ministry at 15,000-16,000 forints by a company owned by Gyula Balásy, a businessman associated with the advertisement campaigns of the previous government, the ministry said in a statement.

Officials of the previous ministry ordered toys worth a combined 239 million forints (EUR 680,000) causing damages to the central budget “in proportion with the overpricing”, the ministry said in its statement.

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