Hungary finds nearly $20 million in cash buried in forests in bribery probe of Orban-era minister

Hungarian authorities have recovered nearly $20 million in cash, some buried in forests or hidden in farm buildings and warehouses, in a bribery probe into Miklos Sesztak, a minister under former right-wing leader Viktor Orban.Prime Minister Peter Magyar ousted nationalist Orban after 16 years in power in an April election, pledging to mend ties with the European Union, marred by years of conflict under Orban, and to launch a sweeping anti-corruption drive into allegations of graft.Orban-era ministers, central bank chief under arrestTwo former ministers from Orban's government and former central bank chief Gyorgy Matolcsy are ​under arrest over graft accusations in separate investigations. They have denied wrongdoing.Authorities have also detained Orban's brother in a people-smuggling case, which the former leader had dismissed as an act of political revenge.The clampdown is part of an anti-graft drive the center-right Magyar has dubbed "Operation Purgatory", considered "very important" by 70% of respondents in a survey by the Median pollster released on news website HVG this week.$20 million in cash found buried in forests, barns"During the searches, investigators found large amounts of cash buried in forests, hidden in farm buildings, warehouses, and a residential property, and stored in a high-value safe in a secluded location," the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office said late on Friday.The cash — 5.07 billion forints ($15.33 million), €2.66…