What does Hungarian law say?

Theft (Section 370): taking someone else’s property in order to appropriate it unlawfully. Up to HUF 50,000 it is generally a petty offence, but with a break-in, pickpocketing, in a criminal conspiracy or on a commercial basis it is a criminal offence even at low values. More about theft →

Robbery (Section 365): taking property by violence, by a direct threat against life or physical integrity, or by rendering the victim unconscious or defenceless; it is also robbery if a thief who is caught uses violence to keep the item. It is a serious felony regardless of value. More about robbery →

Theft from a vulnerable person (kifosztás, Section 366): taking property from a person who has been made drunk or drugged, who cannot defend themselves or can only do so to a limited extent, or who is under the effect of earlier violence. It has no petty-offence form. More →

Embezzlement (sikkasztás, Section 372): appropriating an entrusted item or disposing of it as your own. Up to HUF 50,000 it is generally a petty offence. More →

Breach of trust (hűtlen kezelés, Section 376): a person entrusted with managing someone else’s assets causes a loss by breaching their duties. Up to HUF 50,000 it is generally a petty offence. More →

Fraud (csalás, Section 373): deceiving someone, or keeping them deceived, for unlawful gain and thereby causing a loss, for example online shopping or investment fraud, loans taken out with false data or insurance fraud; the unpaid price of a service used also counts as a loss. Up to a loss of HUF 50,000 it is generally a petty offence, but if committed in a criminal conspiracy (bűnszövetség), on a commercial basis, at the scene of a public emergency or by pretending to collect for charity, it is a criminal offence even at that value. If the victim’s ability to defend themselves is limited by age or disability, the penalty is 1 to 5 years.

Economic fraud (gazdasági csalás, Section 374) means causing a loss by pretending to carry on a business activity. Computer fraud (Section 375) means causing a loss by entering, altering or deleting data or otherwise interfering with an information system, including paying with false, forged or unlawfully obtained cards or card details; it has no misdemeanour form, and even the basic offence carries up to 3 years’ imprisonment.

What penalty can you face?

• Theft and embezzlement: small value up to 2 years; particularly substantial value 5 to 10 years
• Breach of trust: small loss up to 2 years; particularly substantial loss 5 to 10 years
• Robbery: 2 to 8 years; with a weapon, armed, in a group or substantial value 5 to 10 years; in the most serious forms 5 to 15 years
• Kifosztás: 1 to 5 years; substantial value or in a group 2 to 8 years; particularly large value 5 to 10 years
• Fraud: small loss up to 2 years; larger up to 3 years; substantial 1 to 5 years; particularly large 2 to 8 years; particularly substantial 5 to 10 years; in a criminal conspiracy, on a commercial basis or at the scene of a public emergency the penalty is one level higher

Value thresholds (Section 459 (6)): small value HUF 50,001–500,000; larger HUF 500,001–5,000,000; substantial HUF 5–50 million; particularly large HUF 50–500 million; particularly substantial over HUF 500 million. For theft, embezzlement, fraud and breach of trust, up to HUF 50,000 the act is generally a petty offence, but the values of offences committed by the same person within one year and tried together are added up (Section 462). For misdemeanours and felonies punishable by up to 3 years, admitting the offence before indictment and compensating the victim through mediation can even lead to no punishment (Section 29).

What should you do now?

• Do not make a statement without a lawyer.
• Ask for an interpreter in your own language.
• Ask for copies of the official records and call us before the interview.
• If a family member has been detained in Hungary, find out where they are being held and call us immediately.

How we help

• We explain every document and every step of the procedure in English
• Challenging the value and the aggravating circumstances
• Distinguishing a petty offence from a criminal offence
• Mediation and compensation of the victim

Frequently asked questions

When is it a petty offence and when a criminal offence?

For theft, embezzlement, fraud and breach of trust the threshold is generally HUF 50,000, but with aggravating circumstances (break-in, pickpocketing, criminal conspiracy) the act is a criminal offence even at lower values. Robbery and kifosztás are criminal offences regardless of value.

What is the difference between theft and robbery?

Robbery involves violence or a direct threat to take the property or, for a thief who is caught, to keep it. The penalty is much higher: the basic offence of robbery carries 2 to 8 years’ imprisonment.

I live abroad. Who will try my case?

An offence committed in Hungary is dealt with by the Hungarian authorities. We can represent you and keep you informed in English.

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Call us now, day or night

Dr. László-Tamás Benő: +36 70 379 0245

Office: Falk Miksa utca 4, mezzanine 4, 1055 Budapest (by appointment only)

See also: Detained or arrested in Hungary · Hungarian version