Hungarian director denied Kossuth prize over tax fraud

József Sas, director of the Mikroszkóp Theatre, will not be awarded the coveted Kossuth Prize, following the revelation that he was convicted of tax fraud.

Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány chairs the panel which decides on recipients of the award but did not countersign the nomination after learning of Sas's conviction, government spokesman Dávid Daróczi told reporters. Gyurcsány consulted President László Sólyom on the matter.

Sas, known as a comedic actor and director, was sentenced to one-year suspended prison term for committing tax fraud. The verdict is open to appeal.

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