Prosecutors ask court to extend detention of former culture minister Hankó Balázs

The Bács-Kiskun Megyei Főügyészség has submitted a petition asking a court to lengthen the pre-trial detention of former culture and innovation minister Hankó Balázs and his colleagues by three months. Prosecutor-office spokesperson Bodó Marianna explained that the justification remains the same: the suspects face accusations of high-severity crimes, notably alleged misappropriation of funds from the Nemzeti Kulturális Alap, and there are concerns about possible flight, obstruction of justice and recidivism.

Hankó Balázs and former state secretary Varga-Bajusz Veronika were initially taken into custody on 1 October, with the Kecskeméti Törvényszék rejecting an appeal against the detention. Should the court approve the motion, the detention would be extended until February.