Hungarian investigators have unearthed nearly $20 million in cash stashed in safes, buried in woodlands, and hidden across farm buildings and warehouses, laying bare the scale of an alleged corruption scheme tied to a former minister in Viktor Orban's government.
The haul, uncovered over a two-day search in secluded locations nationwide, totaled 5,071,632,000 forints, 2,658,350 euros, and 1,257,100 dollars, roughly $19.5 million combined, and has been deposited into the Hungarian State Treasury.
Miklos Sesztak, who served as minister of national development for four of Orban's 16 years in power, is accused of accepting bribes in a scheme involving the state transport company. He denies any wrongdoing.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who unseated Orban in a landslide April election on a sweeping anti-corruption promise, called the discovery the end of the mafia. The case falls under Operation Purgatory, run by the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office to root out graft from the Orban era.
Sesztak and former central bank chief Gyorgy Matolcsy have been held since September over graft allegations in separate investigations. Both deny wrongdoing.