Monitor this situation.

Unsubscribe anytime.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CRIME]

3 clusters · 25 sources · 29 days · First seen about 1 month ago · Last updated 9 days ago

Hungary NAV investigations and asset seizures

Overview

The Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) has engaged in activities involving the management of seized assets and investigations into large-scale financial crime. In late September, NAV announced an autumn auction for a variety of seized goods, including electronics, vehicles, and industrial machinery, with an estimated value of nearly 1.4 billion forints. By late October, authorities launched a major operation targeting a criminal network accused of fraud related to COVID-19 medical equipment procurement. The investigation focuses on 2020 contracts worth approximately 15.6 billion HUF involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the State Health Care Supply Center. The investigation specifically centers on the purchase of 800 ventilators and 3 million medical masks from China. Authorities allege the network used shell companies to issue fictitious invoices for IT services to evade taxes and move illicit profits to the United Arab Emirates. It is estimated the network generated over 3 billion HUF in illicit profits and evaded more than 660 million HUF in taxes. Coordinated raids in Hungary and Austria resulted in the seizure or freezing of 1.5 billion HUF in assets, several detentions, and the issuance of an international arrest warrant for Bálint Májer, the former CEO of OTT-One, who is believed to be residing in Indonesia. In late October, developments in the ventilator procurement case included the arrest of two individuals following a motion from the Győr-Moson-Sopron County Prosecutor's Office. Bálint Májer reportedly sent a message from abroad stating his intention to return to Hungary to participate in proceedings after learning he was wanted under an international arrest warrant. Additionally, NAV has launched an investigation into the second phase of the Southern Railway Ring project due to suspicions of significant budget fraud.

Entities

National Tax and Customs Administration · Bálint Májer · National Center for Emergency Medicine · National Bureau of Investigation · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 21 SOURCES] The criminal network allegedly laundered over 3 billion HUF in profits.
[● 21 SOURCES] The network caused over 660 million HUF in tax losses to the state budget.
[● 21 SOURCES] One man was arrested in Austria under a European Arrest Warrant.
[● 19 SOURCES] The state paid 15.6 billion HUF for 800 ventilators and 3 million masks in 2020.
[● 17 SOURCES] Authorities seized or froze 1.5 billion HUF in assets during the operation.
[● 16 SOURCES] An international arrest warrant was issued for a leader believed to be in Indonesia.
[● 9 SOURCES] The network used fictitious IT service invoices to evade VAT.
[● 5 SOURCES] The NNI is investigating potential mismanagement and overpricing of the equipment.

Timeline

9 days ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Hungarian authorities launch investigations into budget fraud and ventilator business scams
Hungarian authorities are investigating budget fraud in the Southern Railway Ring infrastructure project and a suspected criminal organization involved in ventilator procurement scams.
11 days ago

[CRIME] 23 sources
Hungary raids criminal network over COVID-era ventilator procurement fraud
Hungarian authorities raided a criminal network accused of laundering 3 billion HUF through fraudulent COVID-era ventilator and mask procurement deals, seizing 1.5 billion HUF in assets.
about 1 month ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Hungary's NAV announces autumn auction of seized goods
Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) is launching an autumn auction of seized goods valued at nearly 1.4 billion forints, ranging from industrial tools to unique sculptures.

Sources

10perc.hu · 24.hu · 444.hu · blikk.hu · budapestkornyeke.hu · dailynewshungary.com · economx.hu · eszakhirnok.com · g7.hu · hang.hu · hirklikk.hu · hnonline.sk · hvg.hu · kecsup.hu · kontroll.hu · mno.hu · nlcafe.hu · nyugatifeny.hu · pecsistop.hu · promotions.hu · realitatea.md · srnnews.com · szabolcsihir.hu · szeged365.hu · toysforlife.co.nz

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history