Seven people, including Csaba Horváth, mayor of Zugló, former member of parliament Csaba Tóth, former minister Ferenc Baja, and member of parliament Zsolt Molnár have been indicted for corruption offenses in the case related to the parking system in Zugló and Újbuda, as well as the IT framework contract of BKV.

In a statement sent to MTI on Thursday, the Central Prosecutor's Office wrote,

according to the essence of the part of the indictment concerning Zugló, in 2016 public procurement procedures were conducted for the operation of the paid parking system introduced in the district.

"Csaba Horváth - as a member of the Capital Assembly - and Csaba Tóth - the district parliamentarian - pre-selected an economic company to carry out the task. In order for the concerned company to win the tender, the two politicians recommended the representatives of the company to assert their influence.

After winning the tender, the politicians received 10-15 million forints on a monthly basis between 2017 and 2019"

they wrote.

They added: in 2017, a local politician approached the company saying that he would not use his political influence against the parking contract, for which he received HUF 2-3 million in exchange on several occasions. The company created the cash for bribes by setting up and accepting fictitious accounts, they noted.

The Central Prosecutor's Office also announced that

according to the indictment, the same company operated the paid parking system in Újbuda between 2017 and 2020 after winning the public procurement.

In order to ensure the smooth operation of the contractual relationship and the problem-free issuance of approved performance certificates, the company paid HUF 4 million per month to one of the managers of the Mayor's Office, they wrote.

They added: in 2019, another company belonging to the interests of the person acting on behalf of the business association entered into a framework contract for IT services with the Budapesti Közlekedesi Zrt., which is exclusively owned by the Capital City Municipality.

According to the indictment

Ferenc Baja, former minister and former member of Parliament, asked for HUF 30 million in case the company wins the tender in order not to obstruct the creation and maintenance of the contract - by asserting his influence resulting from his previous positions and existing political connections.

Later, Ferenc Baja "received an additional 7 million forints to resolve an alleged contractual problem, and then asked for an additional 2-3 million forints per month for his intervention," wrote the Attorney General's Office.

They added: according to the indictment, the member of parliament Zsolt Molnár, who learned about this corruption agreement, also wanted a share of the deal, citing the influence of him, so Ferenc Baja asked for HUF 40 million for not attacking the contract, which was paid to the member.

In its indictment, the Central Investigative Prosecutor's Office proposed that the court sentence the named politicians to imprisonment, a fine exceeding ten million forints, and order confiscation of their assets up to the extent of their unlawful enrichment.

(MTI)

Cover photo: Csaba Horváth and Gergely Karácsony - Photo: MTI/Zoltán Máthé