Former Hungarian government minister Miklos Sestak arrested on suspicion of corruption
The first arrest of a former minister in Hungary since 1990 as part of Operation Cleansing Fire
Quick Look
- Former Hungarian minister Miklos Sestak has been arrested on charges of accepting a bribe of 12 billion forints.
- The arrest became part of the anti-corruption operation “Cleansing Fire”, carried out after the deprivation of parliamentary immunity.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Hungarian parliament stripped several politicians of their immunity at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office. This is the first time a former minister has been arrested in the country since 1990.
BUDAPEST, September 30 - RIA Novosti. Former minister of the government of Viktor Orban Miklos Sestak, deprived of parliamentary immunity, was arrested on suspicion of corruption, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said.
“The court arrested former minister Viktor Orban, deputy Miklos Sestak. This is the first time a former minister has been arrested since 1990. He is suspected of receiving a bribe in the amount of 12 billion forints (about $37.5 million - ed.),” Magyar wrote on the social network Facebook.
The Hungarian Prime Minister said that the investigation into Sestak’s activities is being carried out as part of a set of measures to combat corruption, called “Operation Cleansing Fire.” On Tuesday, another ex-minister Balazs Hanko, who was also stripped of parliamentary immunity, was questioned on suspicion of corruption.
The Hungarian Parliament on Monday revoked immunity at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office of Sestak, Hanko, as well as Magyar himself, suspected of stealing a mobile phone.
Open Questions
- What is the evidence of guilt in the case of stealing Peter Magyar's phone?
- Will there be more arrests as part of Operation Cleansing Fire?
