Charges have been filed against the head of Hungary's anti-corruption agency
The Central Investigative Prosecutor’s Office of Hungary has charged Ferenc Pál Biro, head of the Integrity Office, with abuse of office, forgery of official documents, and embezzlement.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the official’s alleged actions caused losses to the anti-corruption agency amounting to over 140 million forints, equivalent to approximately 394,000 euros.
Investigators allege that Biro misused official property, specifically securing the lease of two official vehicles, one of which was allegedly used by his wife.
Law enforcement officials also allege that three contracts were signed with a consulting firm in Brussels totaling over 100 million forints. According to the investigation, these agreements did not align with the objectives and authority of the agency he headed. Some of the contracts involved establishing a representative office for the agency in Brussels, although Biro did not have the necessary authority to do so.
In addition, the prosecutor’s office accuses the official of hiring a family acquaintance in 2024 who lacked the necessary qualifications and had not passed a national security clearance.
Ferenc Pál Biro himself has previously denied the charges of embezzlement and abuse of power.
The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion with the court requesting that the official be sentenced to imprisonment and a financial penalty.
The Integrity Office was established in late 2022 under pressure from the European Union as an independent anti-corruption body.
Source: Central Investigative Prosecutor’s Office of Hungary.
Hungary’s new Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, made high-profile statements regarding the situation of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine and the European Union’s future economic relations with the Russian Federation.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Hungary, Andriy Sibiga and Anita Orbán, held their first in-person meeting on May 22. During the talks in Helsingborg, the parties agreed to hold a second round of expert-level consultations next week to further discuss bilateral issues.
