Hungarian ex-mayors' detention extended in fraud and money‑laundering probe

The Kaposvár District Court has prolonged the pre‑trial detention of former Fidesz mayors in the towns of Kaposvár and Fonyód until 17 October. The judge justified the measure, citing a continued risk of procedural obstruction and repeat offences in the ongoing investigations for economic fraud and money‑laundering.

Prosecutors allege that the former mayors and former officials of the municipal asset‑management company caused a loss of about 102 million forints between 2019 and 2023 through sham contracts related to green‑space management and land planning. The scheme allegedly involved directing payments to a bank account opened for a relative, from which more than 40 million forints was withdrawn in cash and stored in the mayor’s family‑run tobacco shop.