Pastor, former Socialist MP Donath convicted of indecency, physical assault
Laszlo Donath, an evangelical pastor and former Socialist MP, has been convicted of indecency and physical assault, the Metropolitan Court said in a statement on Monday.
According to today’s ruling — the conclusion of a repeated first-instance hearing — Donath abused his leadership position, making unwanted sexual advances towards a colleague and physically assaulting her. The court fined him 1 million forints (EUR 2,700), citing his lack of a criminal record and his advanced age as mitigating circumstances. It also referred to the time lapsed since the first hearing and the fact that the procedure had to be repeated.
The first ruling was announced on October 4, 2021. After criminal proceedings were subsequently dropped, on September 14, 2022 the Metropolitan Court of Appeal ordered the first-instance court to start a new hearing.
Donath has lodged an appeal against today’s ruling, the court said.
