Nightclub owner Vizoviczki gets seven-and-a-half years in prison in binding ruling

The Budapest Court of Appeals has sentenced businessman and nightclub owner László Vizoviczki to seven-and-a-half years in a maximum security prison for serial bribery, misusing confidential official information and other charges, according to a statement released on the court’s website on Monday.

In its binding ruling handed down at the end of a top-secret trial on Friday, the military tribunal of the appeals court upheld a decision issued by the Budapest Municipal Court in July this year, with a minor legal clarification, the statement said.

In addition to the prison sentence,

the first-instance military tribunal also fined Vizoviczki 108 million forints (EUR 302,000).

Alongside Vizoviczki, 22 people were charged with bribing high-ranking officials to turn a blind eye to their activities and business shortcomings at their nightclubs while taking action against business rivals.

The military tribunal of the Budapest court also handed down suspended prison sentences, fines and seizure of assets to seven other defendants who pleaded guilty to the charges.