If it is up to the prosecutor, Hagyó will be never released

According to the prosecution authority in case of eight accused the charge of continuous breach of fiduciary duty through organized crime is factual therefore the prosecutor requested for their heavy prison sentence and the exclusion of their release on parole in his prosecutor speech.

In case of Miklós Hagyó, Attila Antal, Zsolt Balogh and Miklós Regőczi the fact that the sentence for engagement in organized crime was raised from 20 to 25 years has not only theoretical significance – said Prosecutor János Homonnai representing the Prosecution - when at the end of his prosecutor speech he itemized the charges against each accused and the sentences he is requesting for them after closing the prosecution’s case-in-chief at first instance. According to his opinion in case of Miklós Hagyó, Ernő Mesterházy, Attila Antal, Zsolt Balogh, Miklós R., Ottó L., Éva M.-H. and Miklós H dr. the charge of engagement in organized crime – threatening the accused with double sentence – and the act of causing continuous and extraordinary material loss are well-based.

Most of the accused are charged with aggravated breach of fiduciary duty – some of them are charged as offenders, some of them are charged as instigators and others as abettors. Besides, Miklós Hagyó is charged with two counts of abuse of authority and two counts of bribery committed as an executive official. Besides breach of fiduciary duty, Attila Antal, Zsolt Balogh and Miklós R. are charged with more counts of falsification of private documents, as well. The rest of the accused are also charged with breach of fiduciary duty and falsification of private documents without the fact of engagement in organized crime.

The Magical Nokia-box - part 6

When did BRFK start the investigation?

Although there were no condemning investigations at BKV before 2008, BRFK entered the campaign in 2010. One day after Hagyó resigned from BKV’s supervisory board Gábor Tóth police chief informed the transporting company about continuing criminal procedure. Police initiated the arrest of Szalainé 90 days prior to the elections and kept on accusing BKV persons. The investigation landed in the hands of Hagyó’s former political rival: György Pető used his position to recruit managers of some companies owned by the capital before the municipality elections, who were supposed to be informants to the police.

There were really no condemning internal investigations at BKV?

Really there were not. Two internal investigations stated in 2008 that all the contracts of the affected period are ok. Supervisory Board accepted the investigation of the Internal Supervisory Department on October 16, 2008 with respect to that those reports contained the entire advisory circle and there were no ascertainments that would have requested further steps to take. The general meeting of 2008 accepted Zsolt Tiba’s report (capital clerk) with the attachments which were reports on the contracts between BKV and AAM Zrt.

The Indictment

Here you can view the original indictment related to the trial of Miklós Hagyó and the other associates of the Budapest Transit Company (BKV). Since the debut of the trial, the prosecution has altered the charges and other information which make up the indictment. Unfortunately, this most up-to-date version is still not available. Nevertheless, the original charges and the prosecution’s general theory can be viewed.

The Man Who Created the Hagyó Case

I have written extensively about the BKV case and the severance payment scandal in addition to the current case against Miklós Hagyó.  However, the two cases, though connected to the same company, involve very different alleged crimes and suspects.  Since Mrs. Eleonóra Szilágyi Szalai was the original suspect for receiving misappropriated funds, how did Mr. Hagyó become involved?  The answer lies within the words of one man.

Balogh entered BKV in April 2007 as an Investment Manager which required of him to oversee the preparations and executions of new projects.  A short while later in October 2007, he transferred to the position of Deputy Engineer Manager and Under Secretary to the acting Director Attila Antal.  After Attila had fallen seriously ill, Balogh was promoted by the BKV Board of Directors to serve as the Interim Director of the public transportation company in February 2008.  

Hagyó’s Case Remains in Kecskemét, First Statements by Eleonóra Szalai

The Szeged Court recently decided that the BKV case will continue at the Kecskemét Court, according to an article on mno.hu.  The fifteen defendants in the case, including Miklós Hagyó, requested that the trial undergo a pause while they petition the Constitutional Court on the legality of the case transfer from the Municipal Court of Budapest. 

 This appeal was first rejected by the Kecskemét Chief Justice and secondly by the Szeged Court.  According to the defense, it is very expensive for the defendants to continuously travel back and forth to Kecskemét since many among the defense reside in Budapest, a distance of approximately 91 kilometers.  Additionally, the neutrality of the Kecskemét Court has been questioned since it has ties to the Fidesz party, according to the defense.

Turmoil on the Transportation Front

In 2009 Mrs. Eleonóra Szalai, Human Resources manager of BKV at the time, attracted a lot of attention to the Budapest Public Transport Company.  Why?  She had received a severance package totaling 136 million HUF (just under 400 000,00 GBP at the time of writing).  A general breakdown of the severance package was listed in the Budapest Times: 96 million HUF in addition to a confidentiality compensation of 10 million HUF – strange considering BKV has no competitors in this industry – plus 20 million HUF in expected bonuses. What is the problem with that, you may ask?  Eleonóra did not actually leave her post as HR manager of the city-owned transportation company.  She continued to work and receive a gross salary of approximately $60,000.00 (1.2 million HUF).  Financially, 2008 was a good year for her considering the average Hungarian household wealth can be valued at just below $12,000.00 per year, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The defendant of the BKV case thinks the severance peyment was justifiable

Didn’t admit her criminal responsibility the BKV case’s defendant (no. 14), in the so called Hagyó case on Friday in Kecskemét. Szalainé Szilágyi Eleonóra was only willing to make a confession in one count, but she didn’t want to talk about the management’s contracts.



The former director of the Human Politics at BKV, Szalainé Szilágyi Eleonóra (defendant no. 14), didn’t admit her guilt in the criminal suit against Hagyó Miklós, former socialist deputy lord mayor and the 14 other associates on Friday in the Kecskemét Court. 

The world is for the managers, at least at the BKV for sure

Hagyó trial – Szalainé Szilágyi Eleonóra thinks others received their severance payment, retired payment and salary.

She did not committed any crime, and because of that Szalainé Szilágyi Eleonóra deny the accuse. The former director of the Human Politics (defendant no. 14) was charged by the Central Industrial Office, because she caused an especially large financial demage. Yesterday the hearing continued with her audition in the Kecskemét Court. The trial against Hagyó Miklós,the former deputy lord mayor and his 14 associates started on the 13th of June.



(Photo Source: www.blikk.hu)

According to the indictment, Szalainé Szilágyi Eleonóra deceived the BKV ZRT, because she received 86 million gross for severance payment, bonus, payment for the notice period and confidentiality payment, when previously, they already established her right for advanced early retirement. As they recalled her on the trial, Szalainé said goodbye twice from her workplace, she received the above-mentioned amount, she received her retired payment too, but in fact she was continuing her work until the 27th of July, 2009 for full payment.

The trial of Hagyó is not moving

As the Szeged Court decided, Hagyó’s trial will stay in Kecskemét. The former socialist deputy lord mayor and the 14 other associates were charged with misappropriation which caused an especially huge financial detriment and what they commited in a criminal organization, and with other crimes.




Hagyó Miklós’s criminal suit will stay in Kecskemét- informed the Magyar Hírlap. The newspaper reminds: One of the defendant from the trial of Hagyó turned to the Constitutional Court because there was no opportunity to appeal against the designation of the location.