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Oschadbank Accuses Hungary of Manipulating Video in Seized Cash Dispute
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Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration, or NAV, published a manipulated video as part of what Oschadbank called false allegations tied to the seizure of the bank’s cash and valuables in Hungary, according to the bank’s statement on April 8.
“Oschadbank officially states that the published video was falsified,” the bank reported, adding that the conclusions drawn by NAV were based specifically on the inserted subtitle phrase “corruption money.”
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The bank also argued that the seizure of the mobile phone, its continued retention, and access to its contents were unlawful, and that publishing the video was therefore illegal as well.
The bank said NAV had confirmed the banknotes were new and had not been in circulation. It added that this was, which the bank stated w’s lawful cash-currency supply operations to Ukraine under an international agreement with Raiffeisen Bank in Austria.
The bank added that the seized phone, allegedly used to obtain the video published by NAV, belonged to one of the detained cash-collection staff, who were identified by the Hungarian authorities as witnesses.
Oschadbank stated that the published footage was falsified by Hungarian subtitles that inserted the phrase “corruption money,” even though the phrase is not present in the original audio track.
The bank stated that the video was archival footage recorded on March 10, 2025, near Vienna. It added that the team had stopped to print a standard set of transport documents after an inverter malfunction in a cash collection vehicle equipped with a mobile office, Starlink, and a printer.
It added that the printed documents included a CMR form, packing list, invoice, and ticket, and that the originals carry Hungarian and Ukrainian customs stamps.
Short-route crews often do not use hotels because their vehicles are fitted with sleeping spaces, and the parking area seen in the footage was chosen only to access electricity after the onboard equipment malfunction.
Oschadbank demanded the immediate return of all seized assets and stated that it reserves the right to pursue legal action over what it described as disinformation, while also noting that it had already engaged a leading international audit firm to review the contractual basis and procedures behind the cash transport operation.
The clash over the evidence widened after Hungarian officials presented the case as suspected money laundering, as Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration said on April 8 that investigators had found what it called new evidence in the seizure of armored vehicles and valuables linked to Oschadbank.
Government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs stated the case involved suspected money laundering tied to assets transported through Hungary.
Kovacs claimed the convoy carried freshly printed euros and dollars linked to Oschadbank, as well as Polish and Gibraltar-based institutions, and said footage showed document falsification and discussions of corruption payments.
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