Hungary has closed the case against the Ukrainian cash collectors
In Hungary, criminal proceedings against Ukrainian cash collectors who had previously been detained on suspicion of money laundering have been discontinued. The Central Investigation Department of the General Directorate for Criminal Affairs of the Hungarian National Tax Service closed the case due to the absence of a criminal offense.
“Due to the lack of evidence of a crime, the National Tax Administration (NAV) has terminated the investigation into the ‘golden convoy’ case! No money laundering took place!” Gorvat wrote.
According to the lawyer, as quoted by HVG, the NAV explained in its decision to terminate the investigation that the origin of the allegedly unknown cash, gold, and banknotes mentioned in the report and seized during the search had been established: they originated from an interbank transaction between Raiffeisen Bank International AG and Oschadbank JSC.
The origin of the banknotes and precious metals, as well as their payment to Oschadbank JSC, were confirmed in writing by Raiffeisen Bank International AG, the attorney noted.
The decision to terminate the investigation also stated that the information and evidence obtained during the criminal proceedings confirmed: the property was not the proceeds of a crime, its origin had been established, and that no other crime, apart from money laundering, was suspected in this case.
As a reminder, in March, Hungarian law enforcement authorities detained two armored vans in Hungary on suspicion of money laundering, although officially, according to the shipping documents, they were transporting $40 million, 35 million euros, and 9 kilograms of gold. The client was the Ukrainian state-owned Oschadbank, and the sender was Raiffeisen Bank in Vienna.
This was reported by Lorant Horvath, the attorney for Oschadbank’s cash collectors, on his Facebook page.
As a reminder, the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sibiga, stated that the Hungarian side has yet to explain the reasons for the detention of the seven Oschadbank cash transporters.
A team from the National Bank traveled to Budapest in response to the detention of Oschadbank employees.
Hungary has also accused the detained Oschadbank cash collectors of money laundering.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Ukrainians to refrain from traveling to Hungary.
Hungary announced the deportation of the detained Ukrainian cash collectors.
