Former Fonyód mayor Hidvégi József arrested over 100 million HUF fraud

Former Fonyód mayor Hidvégi József was taken into police custody and placed under detention for up to 72 hours, with a possible 30‑day arrest order pending. Prosecutors allege he caused a loss of about 102 million forints to the municipal company through fabricated contracts for green‑area management and land‑use services, which were actually performed by the company itself or other contractors.

The investigation, led by the Kaposvár district court and the Somogy County prosecutor’s office, also implicates Hidvégi’s son, who was questioned and released. Authorities suspect a broader scheme involving illegal invoicing and payments estimated between 150 million and 300 million forints, as well as money‑laundering through a bank account used to channel the funds, some of which were allegedly withdrawn in cash and hidden in a family‑run tobacco shop.

The case has prompted additional arrests of other officials linked to the city’s development and operating nonprofit company, and a temporary oversight committee was established by the local council to examine the company’s finances.