Index – Domestic – Abuse in the children’s home: another scandalous case has come to light

In the investigation launched in 2023, according to the well-founded suspicion, in the spring of 2023, a man took advantage of his position of power to have sexual relations with a minor entrusted to his care in a Budapest children’s home.

According to the suspicion, the man also acted in the same way with a minor acquaintance outside the children’s home. For this, he also established a relationship of trust with him, offered him alcohol and drugs, and then took advantage of his intoxicated state. On one occasion, when the minor refused, the suspect hit him.

The capital police took the man into custody and suspected him of sexual abuse, sexual violence against a minor and other crimes.

The crimes that are the subject of the investigation are punishable by the law – subject to the cumulative rules – with imprisonment from 5 to 15 years.

The Budapest IV. and XV. The District Prosecutor’s Office made a motion to arrest the man in view of the seriousness and nature of the acts and the circumstances of the commission, but they also took into account the real danger of absconding and hiding, influencing the evidence and repeating the crime.

The investigating judge, sharing the prosecutor’s position, ordered the arrest for one month. The order is not yet final.

Special attention in children’s homes

As is well known, in the past period a lot of attention has been paid to sexual crimes committed against minors, including those committed in children’s homes. More interest than usual was caused by the fact that former head of state Katalin Novák pardoned Endre K., the former deputy director of the orphanage in Bicske, who not only knew that his boss was molesting children, but also assisted in his actions. The decision of the former president of the republic – the background of which was the subject of so much speculation and later admissions – eventually led to Katalin Novák’s downfall, but Judit Varga also resigned, as she was the one who countersigned the head of state’s decision as justice minister.

Because of the case, articles were written about the shortcomings of Hungarian child protection for weeks, you can access the articles of the Index by clicking here and here.

“If you or someone you know is affected by violence in your relationship, or if you believe that someone has been a victim of human trafficking, call the National Crisis Management and Information Telephone Service on the toll-free number 06-80-20-55-20 from within the country, or the toll-free Victim Helpline available 24 hours a day at 06-80-225-225.

You can personally ask for help at the nearest Victim Support Center, the address list of Victim Support Centers can be found here: http://vansegitseg.im.gov.hu

The NANE Association’s helpline for abused women and children can be called free of charge on 06-80-505-101 every weekday, except Wednesday, between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.