Government Spokesperson Zoltán Kovács has told Hungarian television channel M1 that the timeframe of OLAF’s report on Budapest’s Metro 4 project clearly shows that administrations at metropolitan and state levels prior to 2010 are to be held responsible for the abuses in that project.

He pointed out that the OLAF investigation has uncovered abuses involving some HUF 170 billion; this is especially striking, as the total value of the project was HUF 400 billion.

Mr. Kovács pointed out that within this amount a sum of HUF 59 billion – which the state must repay – represents a loss to Hungarian taxpayers.

He called the OLAF report unique, as abuses can be considered proven even before the completion of court proceedings.

(MTI)