The Budapest Military Prosecutor’s Office has questioned controversial former Budapest Police Chief Péter Gergényi over alleged abuse of his position relating to several cases of unlawful dismissal, writes Magyar Nemzet. The paper learned that Gergényi and two other former police officials were questioned as suspects on January 13.
Spokesman Tibor Ács did not confirm or deny information that one of the suspects is Gergényi and did not identify the other two individuals. He said that one former police chief is suspected of abusing his position on six counts and the other two on one count. All three have appealed against the accusations.
A policeman Péter Rónyai, who had been fired on charges of physical assault, filed charges against Gergényi in May 2007 after the Labor Court decided on November 10, 2006 that his dismissal was unlawful. Any dismissal of this nature would have required a legally binding court decision. The case never came to court, however, as charges against Rónyai were dropped in January 2007. Gergényi did not acknowledge this decision for six months before eventually restoring Rónyai to his position. He was finally taken back on May 23, 2007 but, without explanation, was given a different job a day later – earning Ft 30,000 less than before.
Seven more police officers allegedly suffered similar treatment.
Magyar Nemzet talked to Gergényi’s attorney, Gábor Gulyás, who did not wish to comment on the case until a legally binding decision had been made.
According to the civil code (büntető törvénykönyv), abuse of position can be punished with up to two years in prison.
Gyurcsány replaced all police chiefs a few days before Rónyai was – probably illegally – given a lower position, on May 20. Gergényi, now retired, was also replaced but with a deadline of May 31. New police chief, Gábor Tóth, gave Rónyai his old position back.
Gergényi was also suspected of other wrongdoing, Magyar Nemzet writes. For example, he attempted to agree a contract to protect police buildings with Reál Véd-Delta Kft, the company owned by former Budapest police chief János Bodrácska, who has good connections with the Socialist Party. The two-year contract would have meant Ft 200 million annually for the company, but the two parties canceled the contract after the paper exposed the case.
Gergényi was also one of those responsible for police brutality in Budapest in October 2006, according to expert reports and an internal investigation by the police.
