Both denied wrongdoing or challenged the proceedings against them.
Seszták, a Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) MP who served as development minister between 2014 and 2018, was detained at the Central Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Investigation (KNYF), news portal 24.hu reported, citing his lawyer.
He arrived at the office’s Budapest headquarters on Monday morning following the parliamentary vote. Before entering, Seszták told 24.hu that he had expected his immunity to be lifted and maintained that he had committed no crime.
He said he could not make sense of suspicions that he had received billions of forints through cash couriers. Seszták added that he had come to testify, although he did not expect to be allowed to do so.
Speaking separately to online news portal Kontroll, he said he was ready to face any investigation and wanted to be heard as soon as possible. He explained his absence from the immunity vote by saying such matters should be resolved in court.
In a statement issued last week, prosecutors said Seszták was under investigation on suspicion of accepting bribes and other offenses.
According to the prosecution, the investigation suggests that Seszták and the CEO of the Hungarian National Asset Management Company received more than HUF 11 bln in unlawful benefits between 2015 and 2018. The payments allegedly came through an intermediary from a representative of companies linked to state-owned bus operator Volánbusz.
Prosecutors also alleged that a representative of a construction investment group offered to pay Seszták, through intermediaries, 10% of the contractor’s fee specified in each contract in return for anticipated state contracts.
The group won several priority state contracts between 2015 and 2018 and is suspected of providing the former minister with more than HUF 1 bln in unlawful benefits in connection with those projects, according to the statement cited by 24.hu.
Hankó, a Fidesz MP and former culture and innovation minister, remained in Parliament after his immunity was suspended before leaving through the visitor center shortly before 8 p.m. on Monday.
Fidesz lawmakers Bence Tuzson and Bence Rétvári walked on either side of him, with other parliamentary group members and his family also present.
In a live video streamed on Viktor Orbán’s Facebook page, Hankó said he was the victim of a politically fabricated prosecution. He said Speaker Ágnes Forsthoffer had earlier asked him to leave the building.
Hankó said he had received a summons at 7:20 p.m. and would comply with it, setting off with fellow lawmakers and family members.
Hír TV reported late Monday that Hankó had been detained. Its live broadcast showed him saying goodbye to Fidesz parliamentary group leader János Bóka before entering the National Tax and Customs Administration’s (NAV) headquarters in Budapest’s District XIII.
The later report identified NAV as the authority that had summoned him. The reports cited by MTI did not specify the allegations underlying Hankó’s detention.
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