"Economy Minister János Kóka fired the ministry’s chief duty officer this Wednesday, who had tried to get police to drop a speeding charge against state secretary Ábel Garamhegyi on Monday night.The official pretended to be a police colonel when he telephoned Pest county police and told them not to proceed after Garamhegyi was caught speeding in Szentendre. The official admitted that he had exceeded his powers on his own initiative.
Garamhegyi told the policemen who had stopped him to do their job, then telephoned the ministry.
The Pest region prosecutor’s office is looking into a recording of the official’s telephone call to police.
Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány has instructed Kóka to launch a thorough investigation, Népszava reports.
Fidesz spokesman Péter Szíjjártó described the incident as serious. He said someone must be held politically responsible for the fact that some people in some state institutions and ministries believe they can do anything they like."
Source: Hungary Around the Clock.
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12.10.2007